behavior

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The way a person acts, especially in how they treat other people or follow rules.

   Grammar: Normally no plural and no a: good behavior, not a good behaviors.

   Patterns

   • behavior toward someone
   • behavior at something

   The teacher praised the students for their excellent behavior on the trip.

   His behavior at the party embarrassed everyone.

   Parents often worry about a child's behavior toward other kids.

2. 2noununcountabletechnical

   The way an animal, a machine or a substance acts or reacts in particular conditions.

   Grammar: Often followed by of: the behavior of bees, the behavior of the software.

   Patterns

   • the behavior of something
   • behavior under something

   Scientists study the behavior of birds during migration.

   The behavior of the metal changes at high temperatures.

   The app showed odd behavior after the update.

Word forms

Common combinations

good behavior

He was released early for good behavior.

bad behavior

Bad behavior in class will be reported to parents.

change your behavior

It is hard to change your behavior overnight.

animal behavior

She is studying animal behavior in the wild.

on your best behavior

The kids were on their best behavior at dinner.

Synonyms and how they differ

conduct

More formal, and often about how someone follows rules or morals.

manners

Refers to polite habits in social situations, not to all actions.

actions

Describes specific things done, whereas behavior describes a general pattern.

Word family

behave verb

to act in a certain way

behavioral adjective

relating to behavior

misbehavior noun

bad or improper behavior

misbehave verb

to behave badly

Commonly confused: behavior or behaviour?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “behavior”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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