behave

[bih-heyv]

verb (used without object)

behaved, behaving 

1. to act in a particular way; conduct or comport oneself or itself.

   The ship behaves well.

   Synonyms: perform

2. to act properly.

   Did the child behave?

3. to act or react under given circumstances.

   This plastic behaves strangely under extreme heat or cold.

verb (used with object)

behaved, behaving 

1. to conduct or comport (oneself ) in a proper manner.

   Sit quietly and behave yourself.

behave

/ bɪˈheɪv /

verb

1. (intr) to act or function in a specified or usual way

2. to conduct (oneself) in a specified way

   he behaved badly towards her

3. to conduct (oneself) properly or as desired

   the child behaved himself all day

Other Word Forms

• unbehaving adjective
• well-behaved adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of behave¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English behaven “to behave oneself”; equivalent to be- + have

Word History and Origins

Origin of behave¹

C15: see _be- , _have

Example Sentences

Andy looks like a human adult but behaves like an awkward, stammering middle-schooler eager to ingratiate himself with his peers by telling toothless jokes straight out of a Scholastic pun manual.

From Salon

It’s been a very successful partnership in terms of the steering the course of the character, and where she goes and how she behaves and what she says.

From Los Angeles Times

It was soothing to sit in a room with other people who behaved in many of the same ways I did.

From Los Angeles Times

The company, however, did acknowledge "there have been moments where our systems did not behave as intended in sensitive situations".

From BBC

That brings the threat of fires sparked by lightning, amid high temperatures that could spur fires to grow vertically, in a plume-like shape, and to behave erratically.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• act 
• operate 
• perform 
• react