as in to carry
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of behave
For years, people have offered anecdotes that Trump behaves online like some isolated, elderly people who have been radicalized by their social-media feeds—in 2017, Stephen Colbert memorably likened Trump to America’s first racist grandpa.
—
Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 22 July 2025
The word for how the Florida officials involved in this are behaving, and certainly the Trump Administration officials, is gleeful.
—Erin Neil, New Yorker, 17 July 2025
The white mushroom filaments behaved like rubber bands, averaging about 18 megapascals in stiffness – similar to natural rubber.
—Mohamed Khalil Elhachimi, The Conversation, 16 July 2025
Everyone is behaving more or less like themselves, except for Jeremiah, who is behaving like Conrad at his most sullen.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for behave
Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 22 July 2025
The word for how the Florida officials involved in this are behaving, and certainly the Trump Administration officials, is gleeful.
—Erin Neil, New Yorker, 17 July 2025
The white mushroom filaments behaved like rubber bands, averaging about 18 megapascals in stiffness – similar to natural rubber.
—Mohamed Khalil Elhachimi, The Conversation, 16 July 2025
Everyone is behaving more or less like themselves, except for Jeremiah, who is behaving like Conrad at his most sullen.
—Kathleen Walsh, Vulture, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for behave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behave
Verb
-
Her election would also carry symbolic weight as Grijalva would be the first Latina to represent Arizona in Congress.—
Brittany Shepherd,
ABC News,
15 July 2025
-
Prod: Andrés Jaime Santamaría) David Rodríguez, a Colombian police captain, goes undercover in a brutal jail to discover a sect which carries our ritual sacrifices in worship of a supernatural god.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
As well, the players were acquitted of the very serious criminal charges.—
Eric Macramalla,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
-
Brendon's mother, 21-year-old Sophie Staddon, was acquitted of a lesser charge of causing or allowing the death of a child, per the outlets.—
Samira Asma-Sadeque,
People.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
In 2002, the estate conducted a forensic accounting of Monk’s catalog and discovered it was owed hundreds of thousands of dollars from the label.—
David Kushner,
Rolling Stone,
20 July 2025
-
The new survey's findings come just a few days after Trump's approval numbers on immigration hit an all-time low since the start of his second term in a Reuters/Ipsos poll, conducted between July 15 and July 16.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
20 July 2025
Verb
-
Today’s chatbots, in contrast, can engage in meaningful, multi-turn conversations—answering complex questions, handling follow-ups, and even escalating issues when necessary.—
Aytekin Tank,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
The city and its utilities department is handling the acts of vandalism, working with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.—
Karen Billing,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
Video posted to social media by a passenger showed law enforcement escorting a man off the plane with his hands restrained behind his back.—
Aaron Cooper,
CNN Money,
18 July 2025
-
Farrell was then restrained by crew members and escorted off stage.—
Michaela Zee,
Variety,
16 July 2025
Verb
-
If folks will volunteer, it can be composed of two- or three-member teams of neighbors patrolling, if possible, at the approximate times these crimes are occurring.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
18 July 2025
-
For a widow who lost her husband, her only brother and her only daughter in just five months, McCrory is remarkably composed.—
Pamela Brown,
CNN Money,
18 July 2025
Verb
-
Her rental car, containing her suitcase and all of her belongings, is towed.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
People.com,
25 July 2025
-
This post contains minor spoilers for Happy Gilmore 2. Nearly 30 years ago, Christopher McDonald left an indelible mark on pop culture with his performance as smarmy professional golfer Shooter McGavin in the 1996 sports comedy classic Happy Gilmore.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Behave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behave. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share