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 Since Kevin Durant’s arrival in the summer of 2016, the Warriors have often behaved as though another Durant-sized acquisition was inevitable. Jannelle Moore, Mercury News, 28 June 2026 Barkin also expressed concern about how businesses are behaving in the current inflationary environment. Catarina Saraiva, Fortune, 28 June 2026 Once the cooling is done, the research team will evaluate how the fuel materials behaved under prolonged irradiation. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 June 2026 Treasury yields eased in the bond market after a report said inflation is behaving pretty much as economists expected. ABC News, 25 June 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
  • Veterinarians conducting preliminary examinations determined many of the dogs died from gunshot wounds, according to Honsal.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • The long-term health effects of the fire and its smoke probably won’t be known unless researchers conduct a follow-up study, said Eisenman of UCLA.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 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
  • Three women were restrained, arrested, and held for nearly 20 hours in the Baltimore City Detention Center, the lawsuit alleges.
    JT Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 29 June 2026
  • After a special education student in Seymour Public Schools was restrained and secluded 53 times in seven months, the child’s parents filed an official state complaint.
    Sasha Allen, Hartford Courant, 27 June 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 5 Jul. 2026.

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