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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Other Words from conduct

Verb

conductibility \ kən-ˌdək-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē

\ noun

conductible \ kən-ˈdək-tə-bəl

\ adjective

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 Scott’s family has hired a forensic pathologist to conduct an independent autopsy. — Chron, "7 Texas officers fired following death of Black jail inmate," 2 Apr. 2021 Two defense attorneys , one experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, sought to conduct the arraignment that day by telephone. — Maura Dolan, Los Angeles Times, "California judicial watchdog commission admonishes L.A. judge for third time," 2 Apr. 2021 The highly maneuverable sub was able to conduct a meticulous survey of the wreck to verify the vessel’s identity, construct a map of its layout and obtain high-def imagery for naval historians. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, "The World’s Deepest Known Shipwreck Has Just Been Rediscovered," 2 Apr. 2021 Our test centers are unable to conduct emissions tests today, and tomorrow, Saturday, April 3, in the state of Connecticut. ... — Jessika Harkay, courant.com, "Connecticut drivers unable to get emission tests after malware attack," 2 Apr. 2021 These restrictions shall not apply to conduct occurring in private offices or areas which cannot be seen or heard by such electors. — New York Times, "What Georgia’s Voting Law Really Does," 2 Apr. 2021 The Texas Department of Public Safety does not test for THC content in misdemeanor marijuana cases, so agencies must pay commercial labs to conduct THC testing. — Teri Webster, Dallas News, "Plano police will no longer make arrests for small amounts of marijuana," 2 Apr. 2021 The company, called Cyber Ninjas, will lead a team that includes three other firms as part of a $150,000 contract the Senate has awarded to conduct an unprecedented audit of the election results in Maricopa County, Arizona's most populous county. — Mabinty Quarshie, USA TODAY, "OnPolitics: The battle over 2024 has already started," 1 Apr. 2021 Over the next several years, the brothers built experimental gliders and manufactured a wind tunnel to conduct lift and drag tests. — Leo Deluca, Scientific American, "Ingenuity's 'Wright Stuff': A Piece of the Wright Flyer Will Soar on Mars," 1 Apr. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun There were hundreds of complaints of similar conduct in the collar counties, but records showed only a dozen cases so far where financial penalties resulted for violating rules intended to limit the spread of the deadly coronavirus. — Chicago Tribune Staff, chicagotribune.com, "Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Here’s what’s happening this weekend with COVID-19 in the Chicago area," 27 Mar. 2021 Written by a law-enforcement expert hired by the plaintiffs, the report is an analysis of demographic and internal affairs data that attempted to connect disproportionate statistical patterns with individual complaints of racist conduct. — Washington Post, "Next Prince George’s police chief to be announced Friday afternoon," 26 Mar. 2021 Collisions and aggression are typical in surf culture, along with vague codes of conduct that vary from beach to beach. — Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, "They met in the DMs. Now they’ve sparked a movement to end racism in L.A. surf culture," 26 Mar. 2021 In 2017, the comedian Louis C.K. was accused of gross conduct. — Jay Nordlinger, National Review, "Questions of judgment, &c.," 25 Mar. 2021 An investigation of Slaoui’s conduct substantiated allegations of harassment and inappropriate behavior and is continuing, according to GlaxoSmithKline, which is majority shareholder of the company, Galvani Bioelectronics. — BostonGlobe.com, "Former Operation Warp Speed head fired from company board over sexual harassment allegations," 24 Mar. 2021 An investigation of Slaoui’s conduct substantiated allegations of harassment and inappropriate behavior and is ongoing, according to Glaxo, which is majority shareholder of the company, Galvani Bioelectronics. — Riley Griffin, Fortune, "GlaxoSmithKline gets rid of Trump’s vaccine adviser Slaoui for sexual harassment," 24 Mar. 2021 Disorderly conduct, Ridge Road: On March 7, police were dispatched to W. Ridgewood Drive regarding a man causing a disturbance in the street. — John Benson, cleveland, "Brooklyn man arrested for causing disturbance in the middle of W. Ridgewood Drive: Parma Police Blotter," 17 Mar. 2021 Trump’s conduct after he was defeated, and just how dangerous his actions turned out to be. — Dan Balz, Anchorage Daily News, "Analysis: On a day of legal wrangling, the trauma of Jan. 6 becomes the centerpiece of Trump impeachment trial," 10 Feb. 2021

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

6 Apr 2021

Cite this Entry

“Conduct.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conduct. Accessed 10 Apr. 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.