behave

present (v1)

behave

past (v2)

behaved

past participle (v3)

behaved

present participle

behaving

3rd person singular

behaves

1. 1.To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way; to conform.

   • You need to behave yourself, young lady.

2. 2.To act, conduct oneself in a specific manner; used with an adverbial of manner.

   • How did the students behave while I was gone?
   • He behaves like a child whenever she's around.
   • My laptop has been behaving erratically ever since you borrowed it.

3. 3.To act in a polite or proper way.

   • His mother threatened to spank him if he didn't behave.
   • One time when Willie was more set on clowning than on learning about Jesus, Miss Helen ordered, "Willie Mack, you stand up against the wall until you learn to behave."

Overall

Uncommon· #3602

By learning goal

Everyday conversation

Rare

General reading & writing

Uncommon

Academic

Rare

Literature

Rare

Synonyms

• do