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Definition of behave verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

behave

verb
 OPAL WOPAL S
 
/bɪˈheɪv/
 
/bɪˈheɪv/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they behave
 
/bɪˈheɪv/
 
/bɪˈheɪv/
he / she / it behaves
 
/bɪˈheɪvz/
 
/bɪˈheɪvz/
past simple behaved
 
/bɪˈheɪvd/
 
/bɪˈheɪvd/
past participle behaved
 
/bɪˈheɪvd/
 
/bɪˈheɪvd/
-ing form behaving
 
/bɪˈheɪvɪŋ/
 
/bɪˈheɪvɪŋ/
Idioms
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  1.  
     [intransitive] + adv./prep. to do things in a particular way synonym act
    • The doctor behaved very unprofessionally.
    • They behaved very badly towards their guests.
    • He behaved like a true gentleman.
    • They behave differently when you're not around.
    • He had always behaved in a friendly manner towards us.
    • I expect you to behave in a certain way.
    • She behaved with great dignity.
    • He behaved as if/though nothing had happened.
    In spoken English people often use like instead of as if or as though, especially in North American English: He behaved like nothing had happened. This is not considered correct in written British English.
    Extra Examples
    • I know I should have behaved differently.
    • Children, if they are used to being treated with respect, will behave accordingly.
    • Stop behaving like a three-year-old!
    • People behave according to their own understanding of situations.
    • Humans and machines sometimes behave similarly.
    • The enquiry investigated whether officers had behaved correctly.
    • the freedom to behave naturally
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • impeccably
    • perfectly
    • well
    • …
    preposition
    • according to
    • as if
    • as though
    • …
    See full entry
  2.  
     [intransitive, transitive] to do things in a way that people think is correct or polite
    • Will you kids just behave!
    • She doesn't know how to behave in public.
    • The children always behave for their father.
    • behave yourself I want you to behave yourselves while I'm away.
    opposite misbehave
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • impeccably
    • perfectly
    • well
    • …
    preposition
    • according to
    • as if
    • as though
    • …
    See full entry
  3.  
    -behaved
    (in adjectives) behaving in the way mentioned
    • well-/badly behaved children
  4. [intransitive] + adv./prep. (specialist) to naturally react, move, etc. in a particular way
    • a study of how metals behave under pressure
    5. Word Originlate Middle English: from be- ‘thoroughly’ + have in the sense ‘have or bear (oneself) in a particular way’ (corresponding to modern German sich behaben).
Idioms
behave/act as if you own the place | think you own the place
  1. (disapproving) to behave in a very confident way that annoys other people, for example by telling them what to do
    • She was acting as if she owned the place.
See behave in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee behave in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: behave

Nearby words

apron
noun
 
 
From the Topic
Clothes and fashion
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