behaves

Definition of behavesnext
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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 That cost behaves less like a wager on the future and more like a line on the monthly bill. Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026 Breaking normal current flow The transistor also behaves differently from conventional semiconductor devices. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 June 2026 The essential nature of magic especially intrigues physicists like Swingle, who hope to use it on a quantum computer to simulate how gravity behaves in situations where general relativity fails. Quanta Magazine, 3 June 2026 On the quiet end of the spectrum, orange behaves like a cozy neutral, adding depth and glow. Kathryn O'Shea-Evans, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 June 2026 Most peptide drugs work by binding to a receptor on the surface of cells, a process that then initiates changes in how the cell behaves. Sara Talpos — Undark, STAT, 1 June 2026 Evergreen in the Deep South, orange jessamine behaves as a die-back perennial in cooler regions. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 29 May 2026 That structural difference is part of why silicone behaves differently under heat and wear compared to conventional plastic kitchenware. Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behaves
Verb
  • At least a couple million of those feet are directly attributable to Clover, who always carries some twine with her so visitors can add to the ball.
    Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
  • The new money is chasing a job that did not exist three years ago, and only part of what carries the AI label is the genuinely new part.
    Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 6 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 Flores Lab at Moffitt also conducts research into the p53 family of genes, found in many human cancers.
    Christopher O'Donnell, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 June 2026
  • The Orioles said in a statement that the fan was identified and removed from the ballpark while the club conducts a thorough investigation, which makes sense.
    Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • Blue Water Bistro, nearer the sand, handles relaxed lunches and dinners with dishes such as lobster tail burger and seafood claypot.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • As Petruschin focuses on the show’s host, head makeup artist Natasha Marcelina handles the show’s roster of guests.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • Both assumptions break when the system composes its own dependencies at runtime.
    Pranay Ahlawat, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
  • Over the years, the piano became an emotional outlet for Partovi, who composes his own music.
    Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 24 May 2026
Verb
  • At certain points in the novel, that distance calcifies and restrains his writing.
    Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
  • 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
  • Located in the bustling Chinese city of Hangzhou, the Prism contains 43,000 sq m (almost 463,000 sq ft) of floorspace, which is divided between hotel accommodation, residential units, offices, and retail space.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 7 June 2026
  • The novel contains riveting dialogue, words that dance around what cannot be said.
    The Know, Denver Post, 7 June 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Behaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behaves. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on behaves

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster