behave

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 Once markets stop pricing free cash flow and start pricing a president’s next move, the bubble stops behaving like a discrete event with a beginning and an end, and starts behaving like a permanent condition. Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 3 July 2026 Modeling real-world scenarios To model how the accounts might behave in real life, Morningstar made a few key assumptions. Ryan Ermey, CNBC, 3 July 2026 Someone close to you could behave completely out of character, Sagittarius. Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026 This experimental sequence is designed to gather comprehensive documentation regarding how the reactor core and fuel behave under operational stress. Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for behave
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behave
Verb
  • Just assume that any animal is going to carry disease, and rabies is one of them.
    Kelli Arseneau, USA Today, 1 July 2026
  • Fujimori’s presidency marks a return of her family’s political brand to Peru’s highest office — a movement that has long carried a complicated relationship with the United States.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
Verb
  • On Wednesday, a Wayne County jury acquitted Hamtramck City Councilmember Mohammed Hassan of both felony counts of election law forgery and forging a signature on an absentee ballot application.
    Gino Vicci, CBS News, 1 July 2026
  • In a dissenting opinion, a member of the panel, Andi Saputra, argued that there was not enough evidence and Marakim should be acquitted.
    ABC News, ABC News, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • The Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office used its interior drone, along with the New Jersey Urban Search and Rescue K-9 teams, to conduct sweeps of the building.
    Drew Pittock, USA Today, 7 July 2026
  • If you're approved and accept your offer, a credit check may be conducted, which could impact your credit score.
    Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • About 55% of injuries happen to people actively handling fireworks, and nearly a quarter of the injuries are to bystanders.
    Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Key indicators include how teams handle uncertainty, genuinely challenge each other, learn from failures, and base decisions on current realities.
    Tracy Lawrence, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • In California…there has been little success in restraining these abuses over the past decade.
    Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 5 July 2026
  • Croc Docs researcher Eric Suarez and Cole with the SFWMD restrained the python while Welty drew blood from a vein near the base of her tail.
    Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • One concern on Wall Street is that AI models that quickly compose code might threaten mature software companies.
    Jordan Novet, CNBC, 2 July 2026
  • Earlier this month, a bipartisan bill introduced in the House proposed establishing an independent commission composed of 13 members appointed by leaders in Congress and the president.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Pomegranates also contain vitamin K and folate, which can help support healthy blood clotting and cell growth, respectively.
    Daryl Austin, USA Today, 2 July 2026
  • The Lineage warehouse, built in 2018, is likely to contain different materials of concern.
    Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Behave.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behave. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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