behave

Meaning

1. (reflexive) To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way; to conform.
2. (intransitive) To act, conduct oneself in a specific manner; used with an adverbial of manner.
3. (obsolete, transitive) To conduct, manage, regulate (something).
4. (intransitive) To act in a polite or proper way.

Synonyms

act

conduct

do

conduct oneself

comport

perform

deal

bear

🐻

play

work

deport

manage

acquit

make

track

move

follow

carry

operate

observe the precepts

trace

entertain

go on

deport oneself

treat

use

demean

lead

behave well

function

appear

behave oneself

comport oneself

walk around

watch

⌚

work out

acquit oneself

busy oneself

move about

conduct onself

mind one’s manners

keep one’s nose clean

stop

🛑

work about

be

become

carry on

come off

come up

commit

Translations

comportarsi

benehmen

sich benehmen

comportarse

zich gedragen

συμπεριφέρομαι

se conduire

agir

sich verhalten

verhalten

comportar-se

portarse

se comporter

comportarsi bene

comportar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bɪˈheɪv/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: behaven

Inherited from Old English: behabban

Cognate with Middle Low German: behebben

Cognate with Low German: behebben

Cognate with German: behaben

In summary

From Middle English behaven, bihabben (“to restrain, behave”), from Old English behabban (“to surround, embrace, hold, contain, hold back, withhold, restrain”), from Proto-West Germanic *bihabbjan, equivalent to be- + have. Cognate with Middle Low German behebben, behāven (“to receive, acquire, reach, keep”), Low German behebben (“to act, behave”), German behaben (“to behave”).