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

Just as mortgages are compacted into tradable securities, the plan here is to package data center infrastructure into financial instruments that behave like bonds, complete with a secondary market and lower borrowing costs. — Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026

If a polygon existed with no periodic trajectory—that is, no way to return to its starting point—then the geometric object encoding all possible billiard paths would be forced to behave in two incompatible ways. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 14 Aug. 2026

Rabies makes animals behave like humans on a mix of PCP and steroids — aggressively out of control with no regard for their own well-being or anything else’s. — Carl R. Gold, Baltimore Sun, 14 Aug. 2026

Howe said coworkers described Lunceford as behaving unusually before the shooting, and an autopsy found no drugs or alcohol in his system. — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2026