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. Stacey Graham:

   These dogs were raised in cages and had no understanding of spatial boundaries, they had never been on a leash. Most are 1-to-3 years old, and they behave like gigantic puppies because they don't know anything about the world.

2. Mehmet Murat ildan:

   Great ideas behave like the Sun. Even in the middle of nowhere, they find people and shine on them!

3. John Irving:

   The way you define yourself as a writer is that you write every time you have a free minute. If you didn't behave that way you would never do anything.

4. Mike Huckabee:

   He never should have been jailed and it's embarrassing that John Kerry and Obama negotiate with Iran as innocent Americans remained locked-up in prison, president Obama is a complete fool for trusting a country that's been lying, cheating, murdering and sponsoring terrorism around the globe for 37 years. Empowering Iran with sanctions relief is like Neville Chamberlain writing a $150 billion check to Adolf Hitler hoping he'll play nice and behave. This Iran deal is an insane disaster and this White House has lost its mind.

5. Bill Bulko:

   Artificial Intelligence the art of making computers that behave like the ones in movies.

Images & Illustrations of behave

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