Definitions for behave
bɪˈheɪvbe·have

Princeton's WordNet(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. act, behave, do(verb)

   behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself

   "You should act like an adult"; "Don't behave like a fool"; "What makes her do this way?"; "The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people"

2. behave, acquit, bear, deport, conduct, comport, carry(verb)

   behave in a certain manner

   "She carried herself well"; "he bore himself with dignity"; "They conducted themselves well during these difficult times"

3. behave, comport(verb)

   behave well or properly

   "The children must learn to behave"

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. behave(Verb)

   To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way.

   You need to behave yourself, young lady.

   Etymology: From late behaven, equivalent to . Compare behabban, behaben.

2. behave(Verb)

   To act, conduct oneself in a specific manner;

   Etymology: From late behaven, equivalent to . Compare behabban, behaben.

3. behave(Verb)

   To conduct, manage, regulate (something).

   Etymology: From late behaven, equivalent to . Compare behabban, behaben.

4. behave(Verb)

   To act in a polite or proper way.

   His mother threatened to spank him if he didn't behave.

   Etymology: From late behaven, equivalent to . Compare behabban, behaben.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Behave(verb)

   to manage or govern in point of behavior; to discipline; to handle; to restrain

2. Behave(verb)

   to carry; to conduct; to comport; to manage; to bear; -- used reflexively

3. Behave(verb)

   to act; to conduct; to bear or carry one's self; as, to behave well or ill

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Behave

   be-hāv′, v.t. to bear or carry, to conduct (with self).—v.i. to conduct one's self, also to conduct one's self well: to act.—n. Behaviour (be-hāv′yür), conduct: manners or deportment, esp. good manners: general course of life: treatment of others.—To be upon one's behaviour, to be placed where one's best behaviour is politic or necessary. [Formed, according to Dr Murray, in 15th century from be- and Have; apparently unconnected with A.S. behabban.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. behave

   To function a specific way.

   They did behave in the most respectful and responsible way.

   Submitted by MaryC on February 11, 2020  

British National Corpus

1. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'behave' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4163

2. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'behave' in Verbs Frequency: #530

How to pronounce behave?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say behave in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of behave in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of behave in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of behave in a Sentence

1. Carlos Santana, Associated Press interview, September 1, 2004:

   Peace has never come from dropping bombs. Real peace comes from enlightenment and educating people to behave more in a divine manner.

2. Chris Barron:

   Whenever the left wants to lampoon someone on the right President Trump always play the gay card. This is exactly what they think of gay people - that our lives and our relationships are jokes. Something deserving of ridicule and scorn, most middle school children behave better than this.

3. Gemma Clucas:

   The two sexes in penguins behave very similarly to one another, they look almost identical to one another. Behaviorally, they act very similarly as well, particularly in terms of reproduction -- both males and females invest pretty equally in raising their chicks.

4. Unknown:

   Feelings are real and legitimate; children behave and misbehave for a reason, even if adults cannot figure it out.

5. Jim Watzin:

   This is the ideal storm for Mars science, we have a historic number of spacecraft operating at the Red Planet. Each offers a unique look at how dust storms form and behave -- knowledge that will be essential for future robotic and human missions.

Images & Illustrations of behave

Popularity rank by frequency of use