behave
verb
be·have bi-ˈhāv 
bē-
behaved; behaving
transitive verb
1
: to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way
2
: to conduct (oneself) in a proper manner
getting children to behave themselves
intransitive verb
1
: to act, function, or react in a particular way
He behaves like a child.
testing how various metals behave under heat and pressure
2
: to conduct oneself properly
Please behave.
behaver noun
Synonyms
- acquit
- bear
- carry
- comport
- conduct
- demean
- deport
- quit
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
If you can't behave in the store we'll have to leave. If you can't behave yourself in the store we'll have to leave. I wish those children would behave themselves. He behaves like a child! The experiment tested how various metals behave under heat and pressure.
Recent Examples on the Web To put it gently, economies that are in recession do not behave in this manner. 
John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2022 Not many things in nature really behave this way (hens just out there doing the most). Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 25 Aug. 2022 Simply put, different people and groups behave differently. Kareem Saleh, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 Some of them behave as if the most important thing about any story is their reaction to it. Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2022 Financial-market traders frequently behave like the rabbit. Alan S. Blinder, WSJ, 20 July 2022 The prospect of one of our nation’s possible futures peeking out at us from inside a Little League game, showing us how to behave in the true spirit of competition and love. Don Yaeger, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 This is – this is a sobering and frightening moment for people working in law enforcement, in part because the environment is so chaotic and in part because the threat actors behave in ways that are really random and hard to predict. NBC News, 14 Aug. 2022 The movie’s appeal was based on two fundamental human pleasures: seeing gorgeous humans model stunning fashion artistry and watching people behave very badly in ways that the viewer would never dare. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2022 See More
John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2022 Not many things in nature really behave this way (hens just out there doing the most). Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 25 Aug. 2022 Simply put, different people and groups behave differently. Kareem Saleh, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022 Some of them behave as if the most important thing about any story is their reaction to it. Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Aug. 2022 Financial-market traders frequently behave like the rabbit. Alan S. Blinder, WSJ, 20 July 2022 The prospect of one of our nation’s possible futures peeking out at us from inside a Little League game, showing us how to behave in the true spirit of competition and love. Don Yaeger, Forbes, 17 Aug. 2022 This is – this is a sobering and frightening moment for people working in law enforcement, in part because the environment is so chaotic and in part because the threat actors behave in ways that are really random and hard to predict. NBC News, 14 Aug. 2022 The movie’s appeal was based on two fundamental human pleasures: seeing gorgeous humans model stunning fashion artistry and watching people behave very badly in ways that the viewer would never dare. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English behaven, from be- be- + haven "to have entry 1, hold"
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
behave
verb
be·have bi-ˈhāv
behaved; behaving
1
: to act in a particular manner
The children behaved well at the party.
2
: to act in a proper or acceptable way
Tell them to behave.
3
: to act or function in a particular way
We're studying how metals behave under pressure.
Medical Definition
behave
verb
be·have bi-ˈhāv
behaved; behaving
transitive verb
: to bear or conduct (oneself) in a particular way
intransitive verb
: to act, function, or react in a particular way
behaved 1 of 2
adjective
as in disciplined
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- disciplined
- cooperative
- acquiescent
- amiable
- deferential
- obliging
- courteous
- respectful
- polite
- well-bred
- agreeable
- mannerly
- yielding
- obedient
- servile
- subservient
- docile
- obsequious
- orderly
- kowtowing
- decorous
- controllable
- submissive
- compliant
- tractable
- conformable
- biddable
- manageable
- amenable
- governable
- slavish
- trainable
- proper
- ruly
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- uncooperative
- undisciplined
- defiant
- noncooperative
- disobedient
- contumacious
- rebellious
- unruly
- contrary
- refractory
- wilful
- recalcitrant
- insubordinate
- intractable
- wayward
- obstreperous
- ungovernable
- willful
- restive
- untoward
- rebel
- balky
- mutinous
- recusant
- incompliant
- insurgent
- froward
behaved
2 of 2verb
as in acquitted
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
- acquitted
- restrained
- carried
- conducted
- composed
- handled
- comported
- contained
- demeaned
- deported
- bore
- controlled
- quitted
- collected
- acted
- constrained
- inhibited
- checked
- curbed
- repressed
- tempered
- modulated
- quieted
- played
- quit
- moderated
- impersonated
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- misbehaved
- misconducted
- cut up
- acted up
- carried on