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
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Recent Examples of behaves
This phase diagram, a chart showing how a material behaves as variables such as doping or temperature change, is crucial for understanding how superconductivity emerges.
—
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2026
The docking maneuver will help NASA confirm that the lander can handle the forces involved in connecting with Orion in space – essentially checking that the structure behaves as expected and can safely support the crew and their equipment.
—Marcos Fernandez Tous, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026
And that doesn't mean that everybody behaves in the same way.
—Staff Author, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Feb. 2026
To what extent will they be required to stand idly by when ICE behaves unlawfully right in front of them?
—Tony Lux, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
In the case of its Uranus observations, researchers who conducted the study contend that the data could help scientists understand more about how energy behaves in ice giants' upper layers.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
That told them the high sound behaves more like a whistle rather than a song-like vibration.
—Liz Neporent, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
Somehow, so far, that doesn’t beat Chalamet’s feats at table tennis and ability to draw audiences into rooting for him even as his character behaves egregiously.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 23 Feb. 2026
That perception overlooks how the virus behaves, experts say.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2026
The docking maneuver will help NASA confirm that the lander can handle the forces involved in connecting with Orion in space – essentially checking that the structure behaves as expected and can safely support the crew and their equipment.
—Marcos Fernandez Tous, The Conversation, 4 Mar. 2026
And that doesn't mean that everybody behaves in the same way.
—Staff Author, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Feb. 2026
To what extent will they be required to stand idly by when ICE behaves unlawfully right in front of them?
—Tony Lux, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
In the case of its Uranus observations, researchers who conducted the study contend that the data could help scientists understand more about how energy behaves in ice giants' upper layers.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
That told them the high sound behaves more like a whistle rather than a song-like vibration.
—Liz Neporent, ABC News, 23 Feb. 2026
Somehow, so far, that doesn’t beat Chalamet’s feats at table tennis and ability to draw audiences into rooting for him even as his character behaves egregiously.
—Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 23 Feb. 2026
That perception overlooks how the virus behaves, experts say.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behaves
Verb
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Casap may never change after ‘horrific’ crimes First-degree intentional homicide carries a mandatory life sentence.—
Todd Richmond,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
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Finally, many families will need to analyze whether to invest alone or with partners – a decision that carries its own set of advantages and trade‑offs.—
Belinda G. Schwartz,
Fortune,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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McKinley acquits himself capably enough with the few complex action set pieces, notably when a tattered rope bridge across a deep gorge requires enterprising thinking and physical endangerment of Murphy.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Verb
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Located in Oklahoma City near the OU Health Sciences Center, Dean McGee Eye Institute also conducts vision research and trains future ophthalmologists through its residency and fellowship programs.—
Community's Choice Awards,
Oklahoman,
7 Mar. 2026
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The lawsuit alleges the business constitutes unlicensed gambling and that Kalshi conducts this business in Michigan without the licensing approval of the Michigan Gaming Control Board in violation of the LSBA.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The firm handles correspondence, negotiations, and legal communications directly with timeshare companies, allowing clients to step back from the daily grind of the dispute while staying informed about key developments.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
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Chase the Cut handles world sales.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sharon Udoh Udoh composes, writes and improvises hymns.—
Ruby Rosenthal,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
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The episode Art was created by Lily Whear and Lizzie Younan composes our music.—
Gabriela Saldivia,
Scientific American,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
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At certain points in the novel, that distance calcifies and restrains his writing.—
Taran Dugal,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
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And most of the officials agreed that the Fed’s key rate is close to a level that neither stimulates nor restrains the economy.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Dark red markings on a gray panel, meanwhile, typically indicate that the ammunition contains an irritant or riot-control agent.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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Her Amazon cart contains the ageless, expensive-looking building blocks of any cool girl’s closet.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Behaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behaves. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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