English Reference
Word verb

behave

v.
US /bɪˈheɪv/ UK /bɪhˈeɪv/ be·have UK spelling behaves
Definition
  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    to act or conduct yourself in a particular manner, usually described by an adverb.

    to conduct oneself in a specified way. This sense is intransitive and requires an adverbial of manner.

    Simple

    “The children behaved very well during the long wedding ceremony.”

    In context

    “The materials behaved exactly as the engineers predicted under extreme pressure, showing no signs of structural fatigue during the initial testing phase.”

    Usage

    Usually followed by an adverb like 'well', 'badly', or 'differently'.

    Synonyms
    actconduct oneself
  2. 02 A2 Elementary

    to act in a way that is polite or follows the rules.

    to conduct oneself in a socially acceptable or polite manner. When used without an adverb, the positive meaning is implied.

    Simple

    “If you don't behave, we will have to leave the restaurant early.”

    In context

    “The teacher promised the class a reward at the end of the week if they continued to behave during the guest speaker's presentations.”

    Usage

    Can be used alone or with a reflexive pronoun like 'behave yourself'.

    Pitfall
    I told the boy to behave himself well. I told the boy to behave himself.

    When using 'behave' to mean 'be good', you do not need the word 'well' if you use a reflexive pronoun like 'himself'.

    Synonyms
    be goodmind one's manners
    Antonyms
    misbehave

Usage behave like · similarly behave · behave differently

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁ep-der. Proto-Indo-European *h₁epsder. Proto-Indo-European *h₁epider. Proto-Indo-European *h₁pi Proto-Germanic *bider. Proto-Germanic *bi- Proto-West Germanic *bi- Proto-Indo-European *kap-der. Proto-Germanic *habjaną Proto-West Germanic *habbjan Proto-West Germanic *bihabbjan Old English behabban Middle English behaven English behave From Middle English behaven, bihabben (“to restrain, behave”), from Old English behabban (“to surround, embrace, hold, contain, hold back, withhold, restrain”), from Proto-West Germanic *bihabbjan, equivalent to be- + have. Cognate with Middle Low German behebben, behāven (“to receive, acquire, reach, keep”), Low German behebben (“to act, behave”), German behaben (“to behave”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin gmw-pro *bihabbjan
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Common
Updated