verb
misbehave
Misbehave (verb) means to act badly or improperly, especially by breaking rules of conduct. Example: “The children misbehaved all afternoon while their babysitter was on the phone.”
verb
1
To act badly or improperly, especially by breaking rules of conduct.
"The children misbehaved all afternoon while their babysitter was on the phone."
"The software misbehaves whenever the network connection drops."
How to use misbehave
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo act up or break the rules of good conduct.
Common pairings
misbehave in class
children misbehaving
the dog misbehaved
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- misbehaves
- Past tense
- misbehaved
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The children _____ all afternoon while their babysitter was on the phone.
Etymology
From Middle English misbehaven, simply mis- (\"wrongly\") added to behave.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for misbehave
See all rhymes for misbehave →Frequently asked questions
What does “misbehave” mean?
The word “misbehave” means to act badly or improperly, especially by breaking rules of conduct. In plain terms, to act up or break the rules of good conduct.
How do you use “misbehave” in a sentence?
Here is “misbehave” used in a sentence: “The children misbehaved all afternoon while their babysitter was on the phone.”
What part of speech is “misbehave”?
“Misbehave” is a verb.
Where does the word “misbehave” come from?
The word “misbehave” comes from Middle English. From Middle English misbehaven, simply mis- (\"wrongly\") added to behave.
