as in carries
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
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Recent Examples of behaves
Daily habits can have a lasting impact on how the disease behaves.
—
Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 13 Mar. 2026
In the open ocean, there are few landmarks to verify a ship’s position if GPS behaves strangely.
—Anna Raymaker, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
Does any of this matter to how the car actually behaves?
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 11 Mar. 2026
Busch said the material behaves differently from typical glass.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Mar. 2026
And that doesn't mean that everybody behaves in the same way.
—Staff Author, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Feb. 2026
To what extent will they be required to stand idly by when ICE behaves unlawfully right in front of them?
—Tony Lux, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
In the case of its Uranus observations, researchers who conducted the study contend that the data could help scientists understand more about how energy behaves in ice giants' upper layers.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
That perception overlooks how the virus behaves, experts say.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 13 Mar. 2026
In the open ocean, there are few landmarks to verify a ship’s position if GPS behaves strangely.
—Anna Raymaker, The Conversation, 12 Mar. 2026
Does any of this matter to how the car actually behaves?
—Adam Ismail, The Drive, 11 Mar. 2026
Busch said the material behaves differently from typical glass.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Mar. 2026
And that doesn't mean that everybody behaves in the same way.
—Staff Author, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Feb. 2026
To what extent will they be required to stand idly by when ICE behaves unlawfully right in front of them?
—Tony Lux, Chicago Tribune, 27 Feb. 2026
In the case of its Uranus observations, researchers who conducted the study contend that the data could help scientists understand more about how energy behaves in ice giants' upper layers.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026
That perception overlooks how the virus behaves, experts say.
—Angela Haupt, Time, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behaves
Verb
-
While Fa’alave-Johnson’s primary football role in college will be policing the USC secondary, Doyle promised that his senior season as a Don will include more than a few carries.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The attacks have effectively halted traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow passage that carries about one-fifth of the world's oil supply.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
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To fit all listening scenarios, like all DALI loudspeakers, KUPID also acquits itself at low and high volumes.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
-
McKinley acquits himself capably enough with the few complex action set pieces, notably when a tattered rope bridge across a deep gorge requires enterprising thinking and physical endangerment of Murphy.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Verb
-
Katherine McKenzie, the director of the Yale Center for Asylum Medicine, which conducts physical evaluations of people who are applying for asylum, said her organization typically encounters one or two cases a year of female genital mutilation.—
Emilia Otte,
Hartford Courant,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Security company’s statement Lee Ratliff, assistant chief at Professional Security Services, said in a phone call Thursday, after publication of this story, that the security guard in the video was moved from her post at the transportation center while the company conducts investigations.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In a world where AI handles so much, your human connections become your competitive advantage.—
Phil Blair,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The work is billed through the O’Rourke & Moody law firm, which handles the administrative tasks.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After being left to his own devices, the narrator composes a catalog of his personal joys to lift his mother’s spirits.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The writer and performer composes poems, short stories and plays that highlight joys and contend with struggles.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
IndyStar,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At certain points in the novel, that distance calcifies and restrains his writing.—
Taran Dugal,
New Yorker,
4 Mar. 2026
-
And most of the officials agreed that the Fed’s key rate is close to a level that neither stimulates nor restrains the economy.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The base contains batteries as the power source and a cooling system, while the top part is used to blast out rays.—
Lesley Stahl,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Each box contains five pancakes (individually layered with parchment paper for easy separation) that fit in a medium-sized pan.—
Symiah Dorsey,
Southern Living,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Behaves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behaves. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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