behave
To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way; to conform.
Verb 3 meanings
To conduct (oneself) well, or in a given way; to conform.
“You need to behave yourself, young lady.”
To act, conduct oneself in a specific manner; used with an adverbial of manner.
“He behaves like a child whenever she's around.”
To act in a polite or proper way.
“His mother threatened to spank him if he didn't behave.”
Etymology
From Middle English behaven, bihabben (“to restrain, behave”), from Old English behabban (“to surround, embrace, hold, contain, hold back, withhold, restrain”), from Proto-West Germanic *bihabbjan, equivalent to be- + have.
Similar and opposite words
BEHAVE at a glance
BEHAVE has 6 letters and scores 14 points in Scrabble (B 3 + E 1 + H 4 + A 1 + V 4 + E 1) and 15 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #6,986 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with behave
All rhymesOne letter away
- BEHOVE14
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