behaves

present tense third-person singular of behave
as in carries
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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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 behaves This is why so much early AI adoption looks like progress but behaves like decay. Margareta Petrovic, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 Dose, absorption and your own physiology all change how phytic acid behaves in the body. Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 June 2026 No child behaves perfectly all the time. Sherri Gordon, Parents, 22 June 2026 To tackle the issue, HEDI will focus on studying how matter behaves at extremely high temperatures and pressures. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 19 June 2026 Despite this, last month, the Illinois legislature passed HB4273, a bill that behaves as though Illinois is still living in a mild‑weather past. Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026 Someone behaves with a blatant lack of consideration for others. Judith Martin, Mercury News, 16 June 2026 Every black hole in the universe behaves in this one way, but the one that’s closest to us is different. Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 16 June 2026 In practice, a cancer researcher has an idea about how a particular protein behaves in tumor cells. David J. Skorton, STAT, 12 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behaves
Verb
  • While the list carries few immediate legal repercussions, it’s widely considered a red flag to investors that can precede more punitive trade restrictions.
    Angela Cullen, Fortune, 27 June 2026
  • Each of the offenses carries a maximum of 20 years in prison.
    Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • In the proud lineage of pint-sized blonde women who’ve held their own against Madonna, Carpenter acquits herself quite well.
    Harry Tafoya, Pitchfork, 1 May 2026
  • To fit all listening scenarios, like all DALI loudspeakers, KUPID also acquits itself at low and high volumes.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The officer who fired their weapon has been placed on administrative leave as the state law enforcement agency conducts its investigation, per standard protocol.
    Julia Avant, CBS News, 27 June 2026
  • When a tech company conducts an internal safety review, the primary audience is often its board of directors, its investors and its public relations team.
    Erin Mote, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • The Department of State, which handles visa applications from abroad, has not released its full 2025 data, but the numbers through September show a similar picture.
    Ignacio Calderon, USA Today, 23 June 2026
  • In Kansas City and Independence, each city’s health department enforces the food code while in Kansas, the state’s Department of Agriculture handles inspections.
    Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • Agent authority composes dynamically.
    Harsh Singhal, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
  • Each night, the chef composes a refined tasting menu, featuring two appetizers, a choice of two entrées, and a dessert.
    Christina Perrier, InStyle, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • Remarkably, state law also severely restrains cities and counties from setting their own regulations, giving local leaders little sway over local gun policies.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 17 June 2026
  • The result is an economic model that favors producers, restrains consumers, and floods international markets with supercheap exports, including steel, solar panels, and electric vehicles.
    Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • Every plate contains high-quality protein to support muscle repair and recovery, carbohydrates to replenish energy stores, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, calcium, iron and magnesium.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 29 June 2026
  • This article contains spoilers from House of the Dragon season 3, episode 2.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Behaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behaves. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.

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