behave
gb/bɪhˈeɪv/ us/bɪhˈeɪv/
A1
Anglais
~ 2700
Sens
0 sens
Verbe
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.
Schéma d’usage :
to behave [adverb/prepositional phrase]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners sometimes confuse 'behave' with 'act' in all contexts. 'Behave' usually refers to manners or conduct, not simply performing an action.
Synonymes
act (General term for doing something; less about conduct rules.)
|
conduct oneself (More formal or deliberate than 'behave'.)
Antonymes
misbehave (To behave badly or break rules.)
Collocations
behave well
|behave badly
|behave properly
|behave responsibly
Thèmes
daily life
|social behavior
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The boy behaves well at school.
- Please behave in class.
- She behaves kindly to her friends.
- The dog behaves badly when alone.
Verbe
A1
action
2
act according to rules
To act politely and follow the rules.
Schéma d’usage :
to behave [oneself]
Erreur fréquente :
Some learners omit 'yourself' when speaking imperatively, which can sound incomplete or less natural.
Synonymes
mind your manners (Informal; focuses on polite behavior.)
Antonymes
misbehave (To act rudely or break rules.)
Collocations
behave yourself
|behave well
|behave properly
Thèmes
daily life
|manners
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Exemples
- 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.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Behave yourself at the party.
- Please behave in the library.
- The children must behave in class.
Verbe
technical
B1
action
3
function in a certain way
When something works or acts in a certain way.
Schéma d’usage :
[something] behaves [adverb/prepositional phrase]
Erreur fréquente :
Learners may confuse this with human behavior; here it refers to objects or systems.
Synonymes
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]
Thèmes
science
|technology
Exemples
- Metals behave differently at high temperatures.
- The new software behaves as expected under heavy load.
- Water behaves unusually when it freezes.
Exemples pédagogiques
- The car behaves well on the road.
- This machine behaves strangely today.
- Ice behaves differently from water.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
behave
API
GB/bɪhˈeɪv/
US/bɪhˈeɪv/
Syllabes et accentuation
be - have (2 syllabes)
Stress on 2nd syllable (have)
Formes du mot
Verb
- Base: behave
- 3rd Person Singular: behaves
- Present Participle: behaving
- Past: behaved
Famille de mots
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.
Exemples
- Behave yourself while I’m gone, okay?
- The teacher told the students to behave themselves during the assembly.