# behavior

/bɪˈheɪvjɝ/ (US) · /bɪhˈeɪvjɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/behavior
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. human conduct

noun · CEFR A2 · American English

the way you act, especially toward other people or in public.

For teachers: the manner in which a person conducts themselves, particularly in relation to social norms or ethics.

- The teacher praised the boy for his excellent behavior during the school trip.
- The company has a strict code of conduct to ensure professional behavior among all employees during client interactions.

Usage: Usually uncountable when referring to general conduct.

Teaching tip: Note the American spelling (behavior) versus the British spelling (behaviour).

### 2. animal actions

noun · CEFR B1 · American English · Technical

the way an animal or living thing acts in its environment.

For teachers: the observable response or actions produced by an organism in a particular situation.

- Scientists are studying the hunting behavior of lions in the wild.
- Ethologists observe mating behaviors to understand how specific signals evolved within the species over generations.

Usage: Can be countable (behaviors) when referring to specific types of actions.

### 3. system operation

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Technical

the way a machine, computer program, or system works.

For teachers: the characteristic operation or functioning of a device, software, or complex system.

- The latest software update changed the behavior of the home button.
- The engineer analyzed the erratic behavior of the cooling system to identify the mechanical failure.

## Examples

- His behavior at school is usually very good.
- The teacher praises the students for their excellent behavior during the long museum trip.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy aims to identify and alter maladaptive patterns of thought that drive destructive behavior in high-stress environments.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.