behave
bih-HAYV
Behave (verb) means to act in a particular way, or to act properly and politely. Example: “If you behave in the museum, we'll stop for ice cream afterwards.”
verb
1
To act in a particular way, or to act properly and politely.
"One time when Willie was more set on clowning than on learning about Jesus, Miss Helen ordered, "Willie Mack, you stand up against the wall until you learn to behave.""
— Roger L. Van Ommeren, From Rebellion to Submission (2009)
"His mother threatened to spank him if he didn't behave."
"If you behave in the museum, we'll stop for ice cream afterwards."
"The children behaved well throughout the long flight."
"Please behave yourself at the dinner party."
How to use behave
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo act in a certain way, especially in an acceptable or well-mannered way.
Common pairings
behave yourself
behave well
behave badly
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- behaves
- Past tense
- behaved
- Archaic forms
- behavest, behaveth, behavedst
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
If you _____ in the museum, we'll stop for ice cream afterwards.
Etymology
From Middle English behaven, built from be- plus "have," in the old sense of "to hold or contain oneself."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for behave
See all rhymes for behave →Frequently asked questions
What does “behave” mean?
The word “behave” means to act in a particular way, or to act properly and politely. In plain terms, to act in a certain way, especially in an acceptable or well-mannered way.
How do you pronounce “behave”?
“Behave” is pronounced bih-HAYV (/bɪˈheɪv/ in IPA).
How do you use “behave” in a sentence?
Here is “behave” used in a sentence: “The children behaved well throughout the long flight.”
What part of speech is “behave”?
“Behave” is a verb.
Where does the word “behave” come from?
The word “behave” comes from Middle English. From Middle English behaven, built from be- plus "have," in the old sense of "to hold or contain oneself.".
Is “behave” a common word?
“Behave” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
Can behave be used in a neutral way, or does it always mean to act well?
Behave has both uses. It can neutrally describe how someone or something acts in a particular way, as in "the material behaves differently under heat," and it can mean to act properly, as in "the children behaved." Used alone without an adverb, it usually carries the sense of acting politely.
What is the noun form of behave?
The noun is behavior in American English and behaviour in British English. Both refer to the way a person, animal, or thing acts. The spelling is the only difference; the meaning and usage are identical.
Is it "well behaved" or "well-behaved"?
Use the hyphen when the phrase comes before a noun: a well-behaved dog. After a verb it is commonly written without the hyphen — the dog was well behaved — though many style guides accept the hyphenated form there too. Both describe someone who behaves properly.
What is the difference between behave and behave yourself?
They mean essentially the same thing, but "behave yourself" is more emphatic and is often used as a direct instruction, especially to children. "Behave" on its own can be either an instruction or a neutral description of how someone acts. Both are standard English.
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