behave Meaning & Definition
What Does Behave Mean?
As a verb, behave means To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way; to conform. It can also mean To act, conduct oneself in a specific manner; used with an adverbial of manner.
Behave in Brief
| Part of speech | verb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /bᵻˈheɪv/ |
| Synonyms | conduct, carry and act |
| Antonyms | misdemean and misbehave |
| Verb forms | behaves, behaving, behaved |
Behave Definition (Verb)
- To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way; to conform.
You need to behave yourself, young lady.
- To act, conduct oneself in a specific manner; used with an adverbial of manner.
He behaves like a child whenever she's around.
- To conduct, manage, regulate (something).
- To act in a polite or proper way.
His mother threatened to spank him if he didn't behave.
Verb
- To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way.
You need to behave yourself, young lady.
Synonyms of Behave
Behave synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Behave
Behave in a Sentence
You need to behave yourself, young lady.
He behaves like a child whenever she's around.
How did the students behave while I was gone?
My laptop has been behaving erratically ever since you borrowed it.
His mother threatened to spank him if he didn't behave.
Word Forms & Grammar
behave (third-person singular simple present behaves, present participle behaving, simple past and past participle behaved)
Words That Rhyme With Behave
Origin of Behave
From Middle English behaven, bihabben (“to restrain, behave”), from Old English behabban (“to surround, embrace, hold, contain, hold back, withhold, restrain”), from Proto-West Germanic *bihabbjan, equivalent to be- + have. Cognate with Middle Low German behebben, behāven (“to receive, acquire, reach, keep”), Low German behebben (“to act, behave”), German behaben (“to behave”).
Frequently Asked Questions About Behave
What part of speech is behave?
Behave is a verb.
What is another word for behave?
You can replace behave with words such as conduct, carry and act. See the full list of behave synonyms and antonyms.
What is the past tense of behave?
The past tense of behave is behaved. The present participle is behaving.