American English
/bɪˈheɪv/
2 syllables · Stress the second syllable.
to act in a way that follows social rules or is acceptable to other people
Practice out loudto act in a way that follows social rules or is acceptable to other people
The children behaved well at the museum.
Please behave yourself during the meeting.
Use behave well or behave badly, not behave good or behave bad.
behave well · behave badly · behave yourself · behave properly
behave + adverb
behave + yourself
to act, work, or react in a particular way
The printer is behaving strangely.
This material behaves differently under pressure.
behave strangely · behave differently · behave normally · behave unpredictably
something + behaves + adverb
something + behaves differently under + noun
to act politely and follow the rules
You need to behave yourself at dinner.
Before -ing, drop the final e: behave → behaving.