behave in English
- behave⇄behave, verb, -haved,-having.
- behave⇄v.i. 1. to manage, handle, or conduct oneself; act.
Ex. The dog does not behave well in the house. The ship behaves well even in rough water.
(SYN) do.
2. to act properly; do what is right.
Ex. Did you behave today? ""Behave, or - behave⇄v.t. 1. to conduct or comport (oneself).
Ex. The rowdy boys were poorly behaved in public.
2. to conduct (oneself) well or properly.
Ex. The little boy behaved himself in school.
behave in Gujarati ગુજરાતી
behave in Kashmiri कॉशुर
behave in Marathi मराठी
behave in Sindhi سنڌي
behave in Tamil தமிழ்
Behave
Part of Speech
Verb
Pronunciation
/bɪˈheɪv/
Definitions
- To act or conduct oneself in a particular manner, especially in a socially acceptable or proper way.
- To perform or function in a particular way.
- To manage or deal with a situation or person in a specific manner.
Usage Examples
- "She always behaves politely in meetings."
- "The children were told to behave during the ceremony."
- "The car behaved well during the long drive."
Etymology
From the Old French word "behaveren," which means "to conduct oneself" or "to behave." The word derives from the root "be" (a prefix meaning "to do" or "to make") and "have" (to possess or hold), meaning to manage or conduct one's actions.
Synonyms
- Conduct
- Act
- Perform
- Comport
- Carry oneself
Antonyms
- Misbehave
- Disrupt
- Misconduct
- Act out
Translations
| Language | Translation | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| English | Behave | /bɪˈheɪv/ |
| Spanish | Comportarse | /komporˈtarse/ |
| French | Se comporter | /sə kɔ̃pɔʁte/ |
| German | Sich benehmen | /zɪç bəˈneːmən/ |
| Italian | Comportarsi | /komporˈtarsi/ |
| Portuguese | Comportar-se | /kõpɔʁˈtar-si/ |
| Russian | Вести себя | /vʲɪˈsʲtʲi sʲɪˈbʲa/ |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 表现 | /biǎo xiàn/ |
| Arabic | يتصرف | /yatasarraf/ |
| Japanese | 振る舞う | /furumau/ |
| Hindi | व्यवहार करना | /vyavahār karnā/ |
| Bengali | আচরণ করা | /ācaraṇ karā/ |
| Punjabi | ਚਾਲ-ਚਲਣ ਕਰਨਾ | /cāl-calaṇ karnā/ |
| Gujarati | વ્યવહાર કરવો | /vyavahār karvo/ |
| Telugu | ప్రవర్తించడం | /pravartin̄caḍa/ |
| Tamil | நடவடிக்கை செய்தல் | /naṭavaṭikkai ceytal/ |
| Marathi | वर्तन करणे | /vartana karaṇe/ |
| Malayalam | പ്രവൃത്തിക്കുക | /pravr̥ttikkuka/ |
| Odia | ଆଚରଣ କରିବା | /ācarṇa karibā/ |
| Kannada | ಪ್ರವೃತ್ತಿ ತಲುಪಿಸು | /pravr̥tti talupisu/ |
| Assamese | আচৰণ কৰা | /ācaraṇ karā/ |
Regional Pronunciation Variations
- In the UK, "behave" is pronounced with a clear "h," /bɪˈheɪv/.
- In North America, the "h" sound may be softer, leading to a pronunciation closer to /bɪˈveɪv/.
Historical Usage
The word "behave" has been used in English since the 14th century, originating from Middle English "behaven," which meant "to conduct oneself." Over time, it evolved into the more familiar modern sense of acting in a socially acceptable or polite manner. Historically, the word was often associated with social expectations, particularly in aristocratic circles, where proper behavior was considered an essential characteristic of good breeding.
Cultural Nuances
In many cultures, the concept of behaving appropriately is deeply intertwined with social norms and expectations. The act of "behaving" may not only imply good manners but also respect for authority, elders, or certain traditions. In some cultures, there may be a greater emphasis on communal harmony, where "behavior" is a reflection of respect for the collective, rather than individual freedom.
More Information
As a verb, "behave" is widely used across many English-speaking regions, not only in reference to how people act but also in describing how objects or systems function. For example, one might say that a car "behaves well" when it runs smoothly, or that a child "behaves" during a ceremony to indicate good conduct. The verb is also frequently used in imperative sentences, such as "Behave yourself," underscoring the importance of appropriate conduct in various social contexts.