conduct

verb

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con·duct | \ kən-ˈdəkt

also ˈkän-ˌdəkt

conducted; conducting; conducts

Definition of conduct

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to direct or take part in the operation or management of conduct an experiment conduct a business conduct an investigation

b : to direct the performance of conduct an orchestra conduct an opera

c : to lead from a position of command conduct a siege conduct a class

2 : to cause (oneself) to act or behave in a particular and especially in a controlled manner conducted herself in a professional manner

3 : to bring by or as if by leading : guide conduct tourists through a museum

4a : to convey in a channel

b : to act as a medium for conveying or transmitting Metals conduct electricity well.

intransitive verb

1 of a road or passage : to show the way : lead

2a : to act as leader or director

b : to have the quality of transmitting light, heat, sound, or electricity

conduct

noun

con·duct | \ ˈkän-(ˌ)dəkt

Definition of conduct (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : a mode or standard of personal behavior especially as based on moral principles questionable conduct

2 : the act, manner, or process of carrying on : management praised for his conduct of the campaign

3 obsolete : escort, guide

Other Words from conduct Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about conduct

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Choose the Right Synonym for conduct

Verb

conduct, manage, control, direct mean to use one's powers to lead, guide, or dominate. conduct implies taking responsibility for the acts and achievements of a group. conducted negotiations manage implies direct handling and manipulating or maneuvering toward a desired result. manages a meat market control implies a regulating or restraining in order to keep within bounds or on a course. controlling his appetite direct implies constant guiding and regulating so as to achieve smooth operation. directs the store's day-to-day business

synonyms see in addition behave

Examples of conduct in a Sentence

Verb The police are conducting an investigation into last week's robbery. I like the way the company conducts business. The magazine conducted a survey. Who will be conducting the meeting? The committee is expected to conduct hearings in May. He conducts the choir with great skill and emotion. conducting the music of Mozart Our guide slowly conducted us through the museum. Our guide conducted us along the path. Noun A panel investigated her conduct and she was subsequently fired. the President was happy to leave the conduct of foreign affairs to his secretary of state

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb When the Cowboys conduct their virtual exit meetings and player evaluations over the next few weeks, Elliott’s 979 rushing yards and six touchdowns should be viewed as a positive. — Calvin Watkins, Dallas News, "Why there should be no questions about Ezekiel Elliott’s status as the Cowboys’ top RB after 2020 season," 3 Jan. 2021 Firefighters did not find anyone injured from the fire in their initial search, and will conduct a second search after containing the fire. — Liz Hardaway, ExpressNews.com, "San Antonio firefighters battle tough blaze that engulfs vacant home north of downtown," 2 Jan. 2021 The Kim regime, which did conduct a handful of smaller weapons tests, hasn’t test-fired an ICBM or conducted a nuclear test in more than three years. — WSJ, "North Korea Says It Wants Good U.S. Ties in Rare Meeting With Western Lawmaker," 31 Dec. 2020 Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs said at the time that Trump’s campaign had alleged that Cobb County didn’t properly conduct the signature match for the June primary. — Kate Brumback, chicagotribune.com, "Trump calls on Republican governor of Georgia to resign: ‘Fools!’," 31 Dec. 2020 San Diego’s decision to retreat from its ban and conduct an environmental impact report could affect more than 120 other California cities and counties that have adopted bans on polystyrene products in recent years. — David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, "San Diego launching analysis that could revive controversial polystyrene foam ban," 31 Dec. 2020 The House, which must also conduct the same vote, is controlled by Democrats, making certification a certainty. — New York Times, "Sasse Slams G.O.P. Effort to Challenge Election Results as a ‘Dangerous Ploy’," 31 Dec. 2020 Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs said at the time that Trump's campaign had alleged that Cobb County didn't properly conduct the signature match for the June primary. — Kate Brumback, ajc, "Georgia governor pushes back on Trump's call for resignation," 30 Dec. 2020 The lawsuits allege bishops would then tell the victims to keep quiet so the church could conduct its own investigation. — CBS News, "Mormon church sued for allegedly covering up Boy Scouts sex abuse in Arizona," 29 Dec. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The investigation is likely to look at the information used to get the warrant as well as the conduct of officers during the warrant. — Peter Nickeas, CNN, "Behind the mistaken raid by Chicago Police on an innocent social worker's home," 19 Dec. 2020 The summer of racial reckoning following the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor in the spring has brought a higher level of scrutiny to the conduct of municipal police forces toward Black Americans. — Washington Post, "Fatal shooting of Casey Goodson reignites scrutiny of efforts to overhaul policing," 17 Dec. 2020 That honor goes to the conduct of Republican politicians who have ignored, excused or championed this assault on the foundations of democracy. — Steve Chapman, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Republicans bowing to Trump are undermining American democracy," 11 Dec. 2020 This is a disarming approach to the otherwise challenging world of glaciology and the impact of the Big Data Revolution on the conduct of scientific research. — Charlotte Gray, WSJ, "Two Books on Travels in the New North," 11 Dec. 2020 For this, he was mocked by The Federalist’s Mollie Hemingway, who, like Ryun, resists going full #StopTheSteal but appears mostly untroubled by the conduct of the Trump campaign and the president himself. — Isaac Schorr, National Review, "Treat Conservatism with the Seriousness It Deserves," 20 Nov. 2020 Each of those 140 or so sites will have a principal investigator: the clinician who takes responsibility for the conduct of the trial at that site. — The Atlantic, "Listen: A 90 Percent Effective Vaccine," 13 Nov. 2020 Speakers whose behavior disrupts the conduct of the public meeting or threatens the public safety are subject to removal from the meeting. — Tyler Carter, Dallas News, "Your chance to ask DeSoto ISD about financial reform plan after troubles that led to state oversight," 12 Nov. 2020 They are not allowed to interfere with the conduct of the election and are typically required to register in advance with the local election office. — The Salt Lake Tribune, "Fraud claims aimed in part at keeping Trump base loyal," 8 Nov. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'conduct.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near conduct

conducting transportation

Statistics for conduct

Last Updated

12 Jan 2021

Cite this Entry

“Conduct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conduct. Accessed 19 Jan. 2021.

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More Definitions for conduct

conduct

verb

English Language Learners Definition of conduct

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to plan and do (something, such as an activity)

: to direct the performance of (musicians or singers)

formal : to guide or lead (someone) through or around a place

conduct

noun

English Language Learners Definition of conduct (Entry 2 of 2)

somewhat formal

: the way that a person behaves in a particular place or situation

: the way that something is managed or directed

See the full definition for conduct in the English Language Learners Dictionary

conduct

verb

con·duct | \ kən-ˈdəkt

conducted; conducting

Kids Definition of conduct

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to plan and put into operation from a position of command : lead conduct a business

2 : guide entry 2 sense 1

3 : behave sense 1 She conducted herself with courtesy.

4 : to direct the performance of (musicians or singers)

5 : to have the quality of transmitting light, heat, sound, or electricity

conduct

noun

con·duct | \ ˈkän-ˌdəkt

Kids Definition of conduct (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : personal behavior

2 : the act or way of managing something the conduct of foreign trade

Choose the Right Synonym for conduct

Verb

conduct, direct, and manage mean to provide the leadership or guidance for something. conduct means leading something in person. I will conduct the meeting. direct is used for guiding something that needs constant attention. Our mayor directed the building of a new school. manage means the handling of the small items of something (as a business) or the careful guiding of something to a goal. He's managing the president's reelection campaign.