Definition of misbehave
misbehaved;
misbehaving
transitive + intransitive
1 a
T
: to conduct (oneself) badly or improperly
- students who frequently misbehave themselves in class
b
I
: to behave with poor manners or a lack of courtesy
- He worried about the decline of family discipline, about the fact that local youth went out walking after dark, wasted time in levity, misbehaved in church.
- —Tracy Kidder
c
I
: to behave with disregard for accepted moral standards especially in sexual matters
- known for misbehaving with numerous women
d
I
of a member of the armed forces
: to behave before or in the presence of the enemy in a way that does not conform to military standards or practice
- … has been charged with desertion and misbehaving before the enemy …
- —Dan Lamothe
2
I
: to behave in an unexpected or unwelcome way
- After five floods in four years, people in Liberty County are used to seeing the Trinity River misbehave.
- —Adam Nossiter
—
misbehaver
noun, plural misbehavers-
- misbehavers in the classroom
