# conduct

/ˈkɑndəkt/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. to carry out a task

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to organize and do a particular activity, such as a survey, an experiment, or a meeting.

For teachers: to organize and carry out a specific process or activity. Transitive; frequently collocates with 'research', 'survey', 'interview', or 'experiment'.

- The university will conduct a survey to find out what students think about the new library.
- The research team plans to conduct a longitudinal study to observe how linguistic habits evolve in bilingual communities over several decades.

### 2. music

verb · CEFR B2

to stand in front of an orchestra or choir and direct how they play or sing.

For teachers: to direct the performance of a musical ensemble through hand gestures or a baton.

- She was invited to conduct the national orchestra during the summer festival.
- The guest maestro will conduct the symphony's performance of Mahler's Ninth, bringing a famously minimalist interpretation to the score.

### 3. to behave

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to behave in a particular way, especially in a formal or professional situation.

For teachers: to behave in a specified manner. Often used reflexively with 'oneself' to indicate professional or moral comportment.

- The lawyer was praised for the way he conducted himself during the difficult trial.
- Employees are expected to conduct themselves with the utmost integrity when representing the firm at international conferences.

### 4. science

verb · CEFR B2 · Technical

to allow heat or electricity to flow through a substance.

For teachers: to serve as a medium for the transmission of energy, such as heat or electricity.

- Copper is used in wiring because it can conduct electricity very efficiently.
- Silver is the most conductive element, though its high cost prevents it from being used for standard electrical transmission lines.

### 5. behaviour

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the way a person behaves, especially in public or at work.

For teachers: the manner in which a person behaves, particularly in a professional or institutional context. Uncountable in this sense.

- The company has a strict code of conduct that all employees must follow.
- The committee launched an inquiry into the senator's professional conduct following allegations of a conflict of interest.

Usage: The noun is stressed on the first syllable (CON-duct), while the verb is stressed on the second (con-DUCT).

## Examples

- The scientist will conduct a new experiment tomorrow.
- The university decided to conduct a survey to understand how students feel about the new library hours.
- While the maestro was scheduled to conduct the symphony, a sudden illness forced the assistant director to step in and lead the complex performance on opening night.

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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.