What does "behave" mean?

1. (to act in a certain way) to act or conduct yourself in a particular manner, usually described by an adverb. 2. (to be good or polite) to act in a way that is polite or follows the rules.

How do you use "behave"?

Usually followed by an adverb like 'well', 'badly', or 'differently'. Can be used alone or with a reflexive pronoun like 'behave yourself'.

Is it correct to say "I told the boy to behave himself well."?

No — say "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'.

behave

US //bɪˈheɪv// UK //bɪhˈeɪv// be·have

1 to act in a certain way (v.)
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.

Example

The children behaved very well during the long wedding ceremony.

Example

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'.
- act
- conduct oneself
2 to be good or polite (v.)
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.

Example

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

Example

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'.
- be good
- mind one's manners
- misbehave
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'.

Origin

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”).