Definition of BEHAVE

behave

Verb

Verb Forms: behaved, behaving, behaves

  • To conduct oneself in a proper way.
  • behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
    • "Don't behave like a fool"
  • behave in a certain manner
  • behave well or properly
    • "The children must learn to behave"
  • To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way; to conform.
  • To act, conduct oneself in a specific manner; used with an adverbial of manner.
  • To conduct, manage, regulate (something).
  • To act in a polite or proper way.

Examples

  • He behaves like a child whenever she's around.
  • His mother threatened to spank him if he didn't behave.
  • How did the students behave while I was gone?
  • My laptop has been behaving erratically ever since you borrowed it.
  • My letters refuse to behave and form any decent words.
  • You need to behave yourself, young lady.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English behaven, bihabben (“to restrain, behave”), from Old English behabban (“to surround, embrace, hold, contain, hold back, withhold, restrain”), from Proto-West Germanic *bihabbjan, equivalent to be- + have. Cognate with Middle Low German behebben, behāven (“to receive, acquire, reach, keep”), Low German behebben (“to act, behave”), German behaben (“to behave”).

Antonyms

misbehave

Scrabble Score: 14

behave: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
behave: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
behave: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 15

behave: valid Words With Friends Word