behave

verb

bi-ˈhāv How to pronounce behave (audio)
Definition of behavenext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb behave differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of behave are acquit, comport, conduct, and deport. While all these words mean "to act or to cause oneself to do something in a certain way," behave may apply to the meeting of a standard of what is proper or decorous.

the children behaved in church

When can acquit be used instead of behave?

The words acquit and behave are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, acquit applies to action under stress that deserves praise or meets expectations.

acquitted herself well in her first assignment

When might comport be a better fit than behave?

The synonyms comport and behave are sometimes interchangeable, but comport suggests conduct measured by what is expected or required of one in a certain class or position.

comported themselves as gentlemen

When is conduct a more appropriate choice than behave?

The words conduct and behave can be used in similar contexts, but conduct implies action or behavior that shows the extent of one's power to control or direct oneself.

conducted herself with unfailing good humor

When would deport be a good substitute for behave?

In some situations, the words deport and behave are roughly equivalent. However, deport implies behaving so as to show how far one conforms to conventional rules of discipline or propriety.

the hero deported himself in accord with the code of chivalry

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 In fact, those fines can reach up to $37,000 per violation, and passengers who are particularly poorly behaved could even face jail time or an investigation by the FBI. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2025 The balance, the agility and the way the V8 behaves ... —Morgan Korn, ABC News, 1 June 2025 OpenAI is behaving like a typical business, because its rivals are typical businesses, and massive ones at that: Google and Meta, among others. —Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025 Armstrong is a shrewd writer who can depict people behaving badly better than most while giving us dialogue that’s often insightful, funny and bruising. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for behave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behave
  1. carry
  2. acquit
  3. conduct
  4. handle
  5. restrain
  6. compose
  7. contain
Verb
  • In 2016, 23 Republicans won seats carried by Hillary Clinton and 12 Democrats won seats carried by Trump — a total of 35 crossover districts going into 2018.
    — Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 30 May 2025
  • Flair built his reputation on limousine rides and midnight blade jobs, Bruno Sammartino carried the belt like a civic honor, and Steve Austin smashed beers on his head and then drank them on the top rope.
    — Oliver Bateman, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2025
Definition of carry
Verb
  • He was acquitted of all charges after a trial in criminal court.
    — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2025
  • Despite the witnesses who saw Dennis’s murder, the seven men involved were acquitted and were convicted of lesser offenses.
    — Sam Gillette, People.com, 27 May 2025
Definition of acquit
Verb
  • Consider requesting the ability to conduct regular audits or testing, such as assessing for bias, or requiring vendors to run these audits and provide reports.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
  • Every day, thousands of foreign visitors arrive at Southern California’s biggest travel hub on their way to visit family, conduct business or tour the region.
    — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
Definition of conduct
Verb
  • Steve Klein, who has been executive director of the Cedar Cove Feline Conservatory & Education Center in Louisburg, Kansas for over a decade, has encountered numerous cases where owners were unprepared or ill-equipped to handle exotic animals.
    — J.M. Banks, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2025
  • With his former defense attorneys now working for the government, Trump earlier this year tapped the elite Manhattan law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell to handle his criminal appeal.
    — Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 30 May 2025
Definition of handle
Verb
  • The motion requests the judge to restrain all members of Trump’s administration from enforcing the order.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
  • Hopefully, Samsung can restrain the urge to overload the Galaxy S26 with redundant AI features, but don't get your hopes up.
    — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 2 June 2025
Definition of restrain
Verb
  • To that end, the majority of the songs Metallica performed on Saturday night were all composed and written when original members Ulrich and Hetfield were still in their 20s.
    — Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 1 June 2025
  • And so yet another coalition, composed of nonprofits and advocacy groups, wrote its own petition for OpenAI’s plans to be investigated, with the aim of preventing charitable organizations from being leveraged for financial gain in the future.
    — Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025
Definition of compose
Verb
  • Yet even this minor film contains major pleasures, including Mia Threapleton’s whipcrack deadpan as Zsa-Zsa’s estranged daughter, a daffy Michael Cera as a Norwegian entomologist, and gorgeous evocation of a fictitious yet allusive Middle East.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 7 June 2025
  • This newsletter contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing.
    — KiMi Robinson, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Definition of contain

Browse Nearby Words

begun
behave
behaved
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Cite this Entry

“Behave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behave. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

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