behave
/bɪˈheɪv/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: behaves · behaving · behaved
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way; to conform.
Verb
Examples
You need to behave yourself, young lady.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To act, conduct oneself in a specific manner; used with an adverbial of manner.
Verb
Examples
He behaves like a child whenever she's around.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “behave” mean?
To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way; to conform.
Is “behave” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.