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

Now, a team of engineers at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Amherst has created an artificial neuron that doesn’t just mimic how real neurons behave, but also matches them in size, energy use, signal strength, timing, and responsiveness to chemical signals. —New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2025

Kay used the opportunity to point the finger at the way some fans behaved during different periods of the offseason and into the regular season. —Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025

In an interview with Fortune, Adams described learning things from her children that gave her empathy for entry-level workers at her company, while opening her eyes to the need for additional training on how to behave at work. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2025

Geekbench helps paint a broader picture of how the silicon might behave across a range of everyday CPU-heavy workloads. —Wendy Sheehan Donnell, PC Magazine, 29 Sep. 2025