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behave

UK:^*^*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/bɪˈheɪv/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/bɪˈheɪv/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(bi hāv′)

Inflections of 'behave' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

behaves: v 3rd person singular

behaving: v pres p

behaved: v past

behaved: v past p

be•have /bɪˈheɪv/USA pronunciation v., -haved, -hav•ing.

[no object] to act or react in a particular way: The car behaves well in traffic.
to act properly: [no object]Did the child behave?[~ + oneself]to behave oneself in public.

be•have (bi hāv′),USA pronunciation v., -haved, -hav•ing.
v.i.

to act in a particular way;
conduct or comport oneself or itself:The ship behaves well.
to act properly:Did the child behave?
to act or react under given circumstances:This plastic behaves strangely under extreme heat or cold.

v.t.

to conduct or comport (oneself ) in a proper manner:Sit quietly and behave yourself.

late Middle English behaven (reflexive). See be-, have 1400–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

behave /bɪˈheɪv/ vb

(intransitive) to act or function in a specified or usual way
to conduct (oneself) in a specified way: I admit I behaved badly
to conduct (oneself) properly or as desired

Etymology: 15th Century: see be-, have

'behave' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

act - act up - adult - apt - ask for - attitude - badly - behaviour - bitch - blackguard - bound - bow - brawl - bung - cheek - clamp down - condescend - conduct - coquet - crawl - cringe - cut - demean - deport - dirty - dog - domineer - emote - exhibition - fart - fast - ferrimagnetism - flirt - flounder - free - frolic - game - group - hair - hole - humble pie - ill-treat - kid - kindly - lair - lead - lech - loose - malignant - accusative

In Lists: Top 2000 English words, English Vocabulary, PET Vocabulary List - B, more...

Synonyms: be good, be nice, act properly, be civil, be polite, more...

Collocations: behave [poorly, badly, responsibly, well, properly], behave more [respectfully, responsibly, kindly], behave with [respect, integrity, dignity], more...

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "behave" in the title:

acquit vs behave
act weird/weirdly: behave weird / weirdly [adjective vs adverb]
act/ behave
act/behave as they do
Alternatives for "treat" as in behave/deal with.
animals behave <strangely>
behave
Behave [Possible synonyms: act; react?]
behave a way into a problem
behave around someone
Behave as I tell you
behave as you do
Behave as/like
behave differently in California <than> they do in Argentina
behave erratically
behave far better than they otherwise <would>
behave for father
behave in a friendly way / coyly
behave in this way
behave like the little madam
behave like these Apfricans
Behave oneself
behave oneself poorly/awfully
Behave or be nice?
behave or interpret experience according to
behave to prevent
behave towards
Behave towards somebody / Treat somebody
Behave vs behave to [someone]
behave your acts
more...

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⇱ behave - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

behave