Synonyms of behave

behave

verb

bi-ˈhāv 

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

• carry
• acquit
• conduct
• handle
• restrain
• compose
• contain
• comport
• quit
• collect
• play
• demean
• control
• act
• bear
• check
• deport
• constrain
• inhibit
• curb
• temper
• quiet
• modulate
• moderate
• repress
• impersonate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• misconduct
• carry on
• cut up
• misbehave
• act up

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

Recent Examples of behave

The Avengers do, however, have access to the Quantum Realm, the sub-atomic domain where time starts to behave in weird, non-linear ways. —Richard Edwards, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2026

An analysis of the recordings showed that the parents behaved aggressively toward the divers more often when the human interlopers were staring at the offspring or the parent, compared with when the diver was looking in another direction or completely turned away. —Gennaro Tomma, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026

Something that reflects how Dan Fogelman’s show is no longer behaving like a straightforward postapocalypse story and how this season’s narrative slips and slides through the timeline, increasingly shortchanging the series creator’s innate preference for sincerity. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Mar. 2026

The Saints are behaving methodically despite the excitement about Shough, spending on players who can be weight-bearing walls in the next phase of their team-building, while attuned to bringing down the age of the team. —Jourdan Rodrigue, New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026