behave
gb/bɪhˈeɪv/ us/bɪhˈeɪv/
A1
English
~ 2700
Senses
0 senses
Verb
A2
action
1
act in a certain manner
To do things in a certain way, especially how you act toward others or in a situation.
Usage pattern:
to behave [adverb/prepositional phrase]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'behave' with 'act' in all contexts. 'Behave' usually refers to manners or conduct, not simply performing an action.
Synonyms
act (General term for doing something; less about conduct rules.)
|
conduct oneself (More formal or deliberate than 'behave'.)
Antonyms
misbehave (To behave badly or break rules.)
Collocations
behave well
|behave badly
|behave properly
|behave responsibly
Themes
daily life
|social behavior
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The children were told to behave during the ceremony.
- I try to behave politely when meeting new people.
- He behaved strangely after hearing the news.
- Please behave yourself at the dinner table.
- They behaved exactly as we expected.
Learner examples
- The boy behaves well at school.
- Please behave in class.
- She behaves kindly to her friends.
- The dog behaves badly when alone.
Verb
A1
action
2
act according to rules
To act politely and follow the rules.
Usage pattern:
to behave [oneself]
Common mistake:
Some learners omit 'yourself' when speaking imperatively, which can sound incomplete or less natural.
Synonyms
mind your manners (Informal; focuses on polite behavior.)
Antonyms
misbehave (To act rudely or break rules.)
Collocations
behave yourself
|behave well
|behave properly
Themes
daily life
|manners
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Behave yourself while your parents are away.
- Visitors are expected to behave properly in the museum.
- The teacher asked the students to behave during the trip.
Learner examples
- Behave yourself at the party.
- Please behave in the library.
- The children must behave in class.
Verb
technical
B1
action
3
function in a certain way
When something works or acts in a certain way.
Usage pattern:
[something] behaves [adverb/prepositional phrase]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with human behavior; here it refers to objects or systems.
Synonyms
function (General term for operating; less about patterns under conditions.)
|
react (Focuses on response to a stimulus.)
Collocations
behave predictably
|behave differently
|behave like [something]
Themes
science
|technology
Examples
- Metals behave differently at high temperatures.
- The new software behaves as expected under heavy load.
- Water behaves unusually when it freezes.
Learner examples
- The car behaves well on the road.
- This machine behaves strangely today.
- Ice behaves differently from water.
Grammar
Dictionary form
behave
IPA
GB/bɪhˈeɪv/
US/bɪhˈeɪv/
Syllables & stress
be - have (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (have)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: behave
- 3rd Person Singular: behaves
- Present Participle: behaving
- Past: behaved
Word family
Forms
behaves
verb
behaving
verb
behaved
verb
Related words
behavioral
adjective B2
behavioural
adjective B2
Negative and opposite forms
misbehave
verb
misbehavior
noun
misbehaviour
noun
Expressions
behave yourself
1/bɪhˈeɪv jʊɹsˈɛlf/
fixed phrase
act politely and properly
Used to tell someone to act politely and follow the rules.
Examples
- Behave yourself while I’m gone, okay?
- The teacher told the students to behave themselves during the assembly.