Behave

Pronunciation

IPA: /bÉªËˆheÉªv/
Rhymes: -eÉªv

Origin

From Middle English behaven, bihabben ("to restrain, behave"), equivalent to - + have. Compare Old English behabban ("to include, hold, surround, comprehend, contain, detain, withhold, restrain"), Middle High German behaben ("to hold, take possession of").

Full definition of behave

Verb

(reflexive) To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way.
You need to behave yourself, young lady.

Bible, 2 Maccabees ii. 21those that behaved themselves manfully

(intransitive) To act, conduct oneself in a specific manner; used with an adverbial of manner.
He behaves like a child whenever she's around.
How did the students behave while I was gone?
My laptop has been behaving erratically ever since you borrowed it.

2014-04-21, Subtle effects, Manganism has been known about since the 19th century, when miners exposed to ores containing manganese, a silvery metal, began to totter, slur their speech and behave like someone inebriated.

(obsolete, transitive) To conduct, manage, regulate (something).

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)He did behave his anger ere 'twas spent.
1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, II.iii:who his limbs with labours, and his mind
Behaues with cares, cannot so easie mis.

(intransitive) To act in a polite or proper way.
His mother threatened to spank him if he didn't behave.

Derived terms

behave oneself