behavior

/biˈheɪvjər/
/biˈheɪvjʊə/
IPA guide

Other forms: behaviors

Behavior refers to how you conduct yourself. Generally, it’s wise to engage in good behavior, even if you're really bored.

The noun behavior is a spin-off of the verb behave. Get rid of the be in behave and you're left with have, which makes sense: you could say that to behave is to "have" or "own" yourself — to control yourself. There's also a broader definition of behavior, which is basically anything any living thing does in any situation. Brushing your teeth? Behavior. Scratching your nose? Behavior. Eating a large antelope because you are a lion and you're hungry? Also behavior.

Definitions of behavior
  1. noun
    (behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people
    synonyms: behaviour, conduct, demeanor, demeanour, deportment
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    types:
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    manners
    social deportment
    citizenship
    conduct as a citizen
    swashbuckling
    flamboyantly reckless and boastful behavior
    correctitude, properness, propriety
    correct or appropriate behavior
    improperness, impropriety
    an unsuitable or offensive demeanor
    manner, personal manner
    a way of acting or behaving
    immaturity
    inappropriately childish behavior or manner
    maturity
    the behavior or manner expected of or appropriate to an adult
    decorousness, decorum
    propriety in manners and conduct
    appropriateness, rightness
    appropriate conduct; doing the right thing
    correctness
    the quality of conformity to social expectations
    good form
    behavior that conforms to social conventions of the time
    priggishness, primness
    exaggerated and arrogant properness
    modesty, reserve
    formality and propriety of manner
    grace, seemliness
    a sense of propriety and consideration for others
    decency
    the quality of conforming to standards of propriety and morality
    incorrectness
    lack of conformity to social expectations
    inappropriateness, wrongness
    inappropriate conduct
    indelicacy
    the trait of being indelicate and offensive
    indecorousness, indecorum
    a lack of decorum
    indecency
    the quality of being indecent
    bearing, comportment, mien, presence
    a person's manner or conduct
    bedside manner
    manner or conduct of a physician in the presence of a patient
    dandyism, foppishness
    the manner and dress of a fop or dandy
    gentleness, mildness, softness
    acting in a manner that is gentle and mild and even-tempered
    formality, formalness
    a manner that strictly observes all forms and ceremonies
    informality
    a manner that does not take forms and ceremonies seriously
    courtesy, good manners
    a courteous manner
    discourtesy, rudeness
    a manner that is rude and insulting
    type of:
    trait
    a distinguishing feature of your personal nature
  2. noun
    manner of acting or controlling yourself
    synonyms: behaviour, conduct, doings
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    types:
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    aggression
    deliberately unfriendly behavior
    bohemianism
    conduct characteristic of a bohemian
    dirty pool
    conduct that is unfair or unethical or unsportsmanlike
    dirty tricks
    underhand commercial or political behavior designed to discredit an opponent
    discourtesy, offence, offense, offensive activity
    a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others
    easiness
    the quality of being easy in behavior or style
    the way of the world, the ways of the world
    the manner in which people typically behave or things typically happen
    aggravation, irritation, provocation
    unfriendly behavior that causes anger or resentment
    bitchery
    aggressive remarks and behavior like that of a spiteful malicious woman
    bullying, intimidation
    the act of intimidating a weaker person to make them do something
    hell raising, raising hell
    making trouble just for the fun of it
    self-assertion
    the act of asserting yourself in an aggressive manner
    derision, ridicule
    the act of deriding or treating with contempt
    indelicacy
    an impolite act or expression
    insolence
    an offensive disrespectful impudent act
    affront, insult
    a deliberately offensive act or something producing the effect of deliberate disrespect
    presumption
    a kind of discourtesy in the form of an act of presuming
    rebuff, slight
    a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
    type of:
    activity
    any specific behavior
  3. noun
    (psychology) the aggregate of the responses or reactions or movements made by an organism in any situation
    synonyms: behaviour
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    types:
    territoriality
    the behavior of a male animal that defines and defends its territory
    type of:
    activity
    any specific behavior
  4. noun
    the action or reaction of something (as a machine or substance) under specified circumstances
    “the behavior of small particles can be studied in experiments”
    synonyms: behaviour
    see moresee less
    type of:
    action, activeness, activity
    the state of being active
Pronunciation
US
/biˈheɪvjər/
UK
/biˈheɪvjʊə/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘behavior'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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