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. Linsey Marr:

   The smaller microscopic ones that we call aerosols behave kind of like cigarette smoke. So they're going to be more concentrated closer to the smoker, the person who might be infected. As you get farther away, your exposure would be much less.

2. Michael Akam:

   Strigamia live underground and have no eyes, so it's not surprising that many of the genes for light receptors are missing, but they behave as if they are hiding from the light. They must have some alternative way of detecting when they are exposed.

3. The KHL:

   The league points out that the violations, which are related to the incitement of racial, ethnic and international hatred is inadmissible. Supporters must behave in a civilized manner in the stands.

4. Gen Nakatani:

   I hope and expect all the countries, including China, to behave as a responsible power.

5. Michael Madden:

   They are shaping these guys up because there is going to be a lot of foreign interaction, they know to sit there and not get too drunk at the parties ... they know how to behave themselves.

Images & Illustrations of behave

Popularity rank by frequency of use