• IPA: /bɪˈheɪv/, /bəˈheɪv/

behave (behaves, present participle behaving; past behaved, past participle behaved)

1. (reflexive) To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way.

   You need to behave yourself, young lady.

   • 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, […], OCLC 964384981 ↗, 2 Maccabees 2:21 ↗:

     And the manifest signs that came from heaven unto those that behaved themselves manfully to their honour for Judaism{{...}

2. (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.

3. (obsolete, transitive) To conduct, manage, regulate (something).
   • c. 1605–1608, William Shakespeare, “The Life of Tymon of Athens”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act III, scene v], page 88 ↗:

     He did behave his anger ere 'twas spent.

4. (intransitive) To act in a polite or proper way.

   His mother threatened to spank him if he didn't behave.

• behavior, behaviour
• behavioral, behavioural
• behaviorist, behaviourist
• behaviorism, behaviourism

• French: se comporter
• German: benehmen, verhalten
• Italian: comportarsi, agire
• Portuguese: comportar-se
• Russian: вести́ себя́
• Spanish: comportarse

• German: benehmen
• Italian: comportarsi bene
• Portuguese: comportar-se
• Russian: вести себя́ пра́вильно
• Spanish: comportarse, portarse