Behave
verb
To act in a specific way.
He always behaves politely at parties.
Often appears as...
- behave yourself
- behave properly
verb
To behave well means to act correctly and nice.
The children behaved well at the dinner table.
Often appears as...
- behave well
- behave nicely
Usage tips
Approving
verb
To behave badly means to act in a not appropriate or nice way.
He behaved very badly at the party.
Often appears as...
- behave badly
- behave irresponsibly
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
In science, for a material or mechanism to behave means to act or function in a specific way under specific conditions.
Water behaves like a mirror when it is still.
Often appears as...
- behave predictably
- behave anomalously
Usage tips
Technical
verb
To act in a specific way.
He always behaves politely at parties.
Often appears as...
- behave yourself
- behave properly
verb
To behave well means to act correctly and nice.
The children behaved well at the dinner table.
Often appears as...
- behave well
- behave nicely
Usage tips
Approving
verb
To behave badly means to act in a not appropriate or nice way.
He behaved very badly at the party.
Often appears as...
- behave badly
- behave irresponsibly
Usage tips
Disapproving
verb
In science, for a material or mechanism to behave means to act or function in a specific way under specific conditions.
Water behaves like a mirror when it is still.
Often appears as...
- behave predictably
- behave anomalously
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Expectations
In different cultures, 'behaving' can have varying expectations—understand the social norms.
In Japan, he was careful to behave according to local customs.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional State
'Behave' doesn't specify emotion. One can behave calmly despite feeling angry.
Despite the provocation, she behaved with utmost calmness.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Just Humans
'Behave' can also apply to animals or a crowd, not just individuals.
The monkeys at the zoo behaved playfully during feeding time.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Expectations
In different cultures, 'behaving' can have varying expectations—understand the social norms.
In Japan, he was careful to behave according to local customs.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional State
'Behave' doesn't specify emotion. One can behave calmly despite feeling angry.
Despite the provocation, she behaved with utmost calmness.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Just Humans
'Behave' can also apply to animals or a crowd, not just individuals.
The monkeys at the zoo behaved playfully during feeding time.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Expectations
In different cultures, 'behaving' can have varying expectations—understand the social norms.
In Japan, he was careful to behave according to local customs.
Pro Tip 2/3Emotional State
'Behave' doesn't specify emotion. One can behave calmly despite feeling angry.
Despite the provocation, she behaved with utmost calmness.
Pro Tip 3/3Not Just Humans
'Behave' can also apply to animals or a crowd, not just individuals.
The monkeys at the zoo behaved playfully during feeding time.
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Video examples
How sugar affects the...
If you rarely eat sugar or don't eat much at a time, the effect is similar to that of the balanced meal. But if you eat too much, the dopamine response does not level out. In other words, eating lots of sugar will continue to feel rewarding. In this way, sugar behaves a little bit like a drug. It's one reason people seem to be hooked on sugary foods.
Video examples
Everything you think you...
it's a pretty simple premise. Get an addict, all the people in their life, gather them together, confront them with what they're doing, and they say, if you don't shape up, we're going to cut you off. So what they do is they take the connection to the addict, and they threaten it, they make it contingent on the addict behaving the way they want.
Video examples
Expanding our definition...
say there are lots of countries in the world which are moving in that direction some like Finland have been doing it for a very long time so I think we have time for one question from the audience which is absurd but thankfully second is not leaving tonight right not much you've heard something I don't I mean he might be if it doesn't behave
Video examples
People and Bears Live in...
a great berry crop and it's a great great news for the Bears the responsibility falls on people to behave accordingly and responsibly okay so we're doing a major media blitz campaign going for social media we have people at trailhead sense absolutely crazy there's I think eight or nine warnings posted
Video examples
How do drugs affect the...
Most people will take a pill, receive an injection, or otherwise take some kind of medicine during their lives, but most of us don't know anything about how these substances actually work. How can various compounds impact the way we physically feel, think, and even behave?
Video examples
What can Schrödinger's...
is much different than the physics of the macroscopic objects you see around you all the time. The everyday world you know and love behaves according to the laws of classical mechanics. But systems on the scale of atoms behave according to the laws of quantum mechanics.
Video examples
The hidden meanings of...
Taoists believe that the universe is made up of energies, vibrations, and matter, which behave differently in different contexts. Something can be yin or yang depending on, well, depending on lots of things. So, while wheat that's growing is yang,
Video examples
The unexpected math...
behave remarkably similar to fluid turbulence. His self-portrait with a pipe, from a calmer period in Van Gogh's life, showed no sign of this correspondence. And neither did other artists' work that seemed equally turbulent at first glance,
Video examples
Debunking the myths of...
are actually hardwired to behave in a certain fashion. Research has implicated three regions of the brain variously involved in social behavior and complex cognitive planning, voluntary movement, and emotional and motivational responses.
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
will go away with a with a view of the complexity and the details that we have little idea of of what governs the animal world and what governs the way in which animals behave and the huge variety that there
Video examples
How sugar affects the...
If you rarely eat sugar or don't eat much at a time, the effect is similar to that of the balanced meal. But if you eat too much, the dopamine response does not level out. In other words, eating lots of sugar will continue to feel rewarding. In this way, sugar behaves a little bit like a drug. It's one reason people seem to be hooked on sugary foods.
Video examples
Everything you think you...
it's a pretty simple premise. Get an addict, all the people in their life, gather them together, confront them with what they're doing, and they say, if you don't shape up, we're going to cut you off. So what they do is they take the connection to the addict, and they threaten it, they make it contingent on the addict behaving the way they want.
Video examples
Expanding our definition...
say there are lots of countries in the world which are moving in that direction some like Finland have been doing it for a very long time so I think we have time for one question from the audience which is absurd but thankfully second is not leaving tonight right not much you've heard something I don't I mean he might be if it doesn't behave
Video examples
People and Bears Live in...
a great berry crop and it's a great great news for the Bears the responsibility falls on people to behave accordingly and responsibly okay so we're doing a major media blitz campaign going for social media we have people at trailhead sense absolutely crazy there's I think eight or nine warnings posted
Video examples
How do drugs affect the...
Most people will take a pill, receive an injection, or otherwise take some kind of medicine during their lives, but most of us don't know anything about how these substances actually work. How can various compounds impact the way we physically feel, think, and even behave?
Video examples
What can Schrödinger's...
is much different than the physics of the macroscopic objects you see around you all the time. The everyday world you know and love behaves according to the laws of classical mechanics. But systems on the scale of atoms behave according to the laws of quantum mechanics.
Video examples
The hidden meanings of...
Taoists believe that the universe is made up of energies, vibrations, and matter, which behave differently in different contexts. Something can be yin or yang depending on, well, depending on lots of things. So, while wheat that's growing is yang,
Video examples
The unexpected math...
behave remarkably similar to fluid turbulence. His self-portrait with a pipe, from a calmer period in Van Gogh's life, showed no sign of this correspondence. And neither did other artists' work that seemed equally turbulent at first glance,
Video examples
Debunking the myths of...
are actually hardwired to behave in a certain fashion. Research has implicated three regions of the brain variously involved in social behavior and complex cognitive planning, voluntary movement, and emotional and motivational responses.
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
will go away with a with a view of the complexity and the details that we have little idea of of what governs the animal world and what governs the way in which animals behave and the huge variety that there
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Robert De Niro
Actor
I always go back to how people behave. If you watch how people actually behave in a situation, it's very simple and honest and contained. You don't need to use as much expression, as much feeling. Some characters will boil over, and that's another thing, but a lot of times I think you can just do very, very little.
Quote examples
Dakota Fanning
American Actress
I think you learn something from everybody that you've worked with. I really learned how to behave on set through the people that I worked with, like the importance of being on time and the importance of being professional. I don't bring my cell phone on set; I leave it in my trailer.
Quote examples
J. K. Simmons
American Actor
If you're doing a prison show, HBO is the absolute best place in the world to be doing that because you're not going to have to do all that, you know, 'Prison Break' stuff where you can't really behave and speak like people do in a maximum-security prison.
Quote examples
Gloria Steinem
American Activist
We are still behaving as if a worker really doesn't have a family because the work pattern really was meant for men who really were the financial support but weren't looking after their families. We need to change this, and we can easily do that.
Quote examples
Jarvis Cocker
English Musician
In some ways, I always thought you're better off behaving like a rock star when you're a normal person. Because if you do it as a rock star, you'll end up in the papers and your life will be made a misery.
Quote examples
Samuel Eto'o
Cameroonian Athlete
When I was growing up, I thought everything was a life of friendship, respect, and sharing. But I discovered that unfortunately, you have people who aren't behaving in the same way but have hatred.
Quote examples
Gene Simmons
American Musician
The only jobs kids have are to do well in school, to be charming and polite, and be thankful. That's it. I'll house you, protect you, I'll even give my life for you, and in return, you will behave.
Quote examples
Arsene Wenger
French Coach
Private life is private life. Off the pitch, there is private life, and the rest is social life, where of course you have to behave responsibly.
Quote examples
Cameron Diaz
American Actress
I've pretty much behaved like a knucklehead my entire life.
Quote examples
Bayard Rustin
American Leader
To be afraid is to behave as if the truth were not true.
Quote examples
Robert De Niro
Actor
I always go back to how people behave. If you watch how people actually behave in a situation, it's very simple and honest and contained. You don't need to use as much expression, as much feeling. Some characters will boil over, and that's another thing, but a lot of times I think you can just do very, very little.
Quote examples
Dakota Fanning
American Actress
I think you learn something from everybody that you've worked with. I really learned how to behave on set through the people that I worked with, like the importance of being on time and the importance of being professional. I don't bring my cell phone on set; I leave it in my trailer.
Quote examples
J. K. Simmons
American Actor
If you're doing a prison show, HBO is the absolute best place in the world to be doing that because you're not going to have to do all that, you know, 'Prison Break' stuff where you can't really behave and speak like people do in a maximum-security prison.
Quote examples
Gloria Steinem
American Activist
We are still behaving as if a worker really doesn't have a family because the work pattern really was meant for men who really were the financial support but weren't looking after their families. We need to change this, and we can easily do that.
Quote examples
Jarvis Cocker
English Musician
In some ways, I always thought you're better off behaving like a rock star when you're a normal person. Because if you do it as a rock star, you'll end up in the papers and your life will be made a misery.
Quote examples
Samuel Eto'o
Cameroonian Athlete
When I was growing up, I thought everything was a life of friendship, respect, and sharing. But I discovered that unfortunately, you have people who aren't behaving in the same way but have hatred.
Quote examples
Gene Simmons
American Musician
The only jobs kids have are to do well in school, to be charming and polite, and be thankful. That's it. I'll house you, protect you, I'll even give my life for you, and in return, you will behave.
Quote examples
Arsene Wenger
French Coach
Private life is private life. Off the pitch, there is private life, and the rest is social life, where of course you have to behave responsibly.
Quote examples
Cameron Diaz
American Actress
I've pretty much behaved like a knucklehead my entire life.
Quote examples
Bayard Rustin
American Leader
To be afraid is to behave as if the truth were not true.
Example 1 of 10
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