behave

Definition of behavenext
as in to carry
to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way if the children behave themselves properly and sit quietly during church, they'll get their ice cream afterward

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb behave differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of behave are acquit, comport, conduct, and deport. While all these words mean "to act or to cause oneself to do something in a certain way," behave may apply to the meeting of a standard of what is proper or decorous.

the children behaved in church

When can acquit be used instead of behave?

The words acquit and behave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, acquit applies to action under stress that deserves praise or meets expectations.

acquitted herself well in her first assignment

When might comport be a better fit than behave?

The synonyms comport and behave are sometimes interchangeable, but comport suggests conduct measured by what is expected or required of one in a certain class or position.

comported themselves as gentlemen

When is conduct a more appropriate choice than behave?

The words conduct and behave can be used in similar contexts, but conduct implies action or behavior that shows the extent of one's power to control or direct oneself.

conducted herself with unfailing good humor

When would deport be a good substitute for behave?

In some situations, the words deport and behave are roughly equivalent. However, deport implies behaving so as to show how far one conforms to conventional rules of discipline or propriety.

the hero deported himself in accord with the code of chivalry

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of behave Dose, absorption and your own physiology all change how phytic acid behaves in the body. Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2026 Johnson said Gracie didn't behave like a normal giraffe. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 24 June 2026 Others depend on third-place permutations, favourable routes through the draw and several rounds of the favourites behaving like favourites. Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 23 June 2026 Enterprises will need interoperable methods to verify how agents behave across different platforms and stacks. Najwa Aaraj, Fortune, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for behave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behave
Verb
  • Once, there was a showdown with another tour bus — one presumably not carrying theatergoers.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2026
  • The spacious purse comes with two strap options, so it can also be carried as a crossbody.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is calling for the impeachment of the Miami-Dade judge who acquitted a woman by reason of insanity in the 2021 death of her 15-month-old daughter, arguing the ruling threatens public safety.
    Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 26 June 2026
  • Weinstein was convicted of some charges and acquitted of others at trials in New York and California.
    ABC News, ABC News, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • No homes had been lost, and Utah Fire Info, a multiagency operation, said in a post on X that firefighters conducted a successful back-burn operation to protect the town.
    Valerie Gonzalez, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2026
  • The artwork, the name of which has not been revealed, was stumbled on by police during a search conducted in the Île-de-France region.
    Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • Bosch, the German engineering firm, says its British subsidiary now handles 10,000 import transactions per year, a stunning increase from just 40 annually prior to Brexit.
    Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 22 June 2026
  • According to the developers, the AI agent will create itineraries, handle arrangements, and try to anticipate what guests need.
    Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • From June of 2004 to July of 2006, as the subprime bubble was inflating, the Fed raised the interest rate 17 times consecutively – a textbook policy of monetary tightening, unprecedented at the time, which should have restrained credit creation.
    George Calhoun, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • Authorities said Veit restrained the girl before placing her inside the dryer.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Music for this episode was composed by Ramtin Arablouie, and his band, Drop Electric, which includes Navid Marvi, Sho Fujiwara, and Anya Mizani.
    Rund Abdelfatah, NPR, 24 June 2026
  • The mosaic is composed of nine photographs, each covering an area of the sky larger than the Moon.
    CBS News, CBS News, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Firefighters, meanwhile, quickly contained the blaze to a 10-by-10-foot area.
    Jason Green, Mercury News, 24 June 2026
  • Each kit contains five breakfasts and five lunches.
    Joshua Cole, CBS News, 24 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Behave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behave. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.

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