behaving 1 of 2

adjective

as in behaved

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behaving

2 of 2

verb

present participle of behave
as in carrying
to manage the actions of (oneself) in a particular way if the children behave themselves properly and sit quietly during church, they'll get their ice cream afterward

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of behaving
Verb
Anybody can be charming to a powerful boss, an attractive stranger, or a potentially useful client; character is more diagnostic when there is little reputational or instrumental benefit to behaving well. — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 SwRI’s new toy for sCO₂ testing Their job is to control where and how quickly CO₂ enters the rock formation, prevent unwanted fluids moving around the well, and generally keep the reservoir behaving as intended. — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026 Her husband, Bobby Lane, was driving Otwell and their two children from their Wilmar home to the Walmart in Monticello when an Arkansas State Police cruiser coming the opposite direction began behaving erratically. — Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2026 Adair died in his cell following an altercation with multiple deputies that evening, many of whom testified Adair was being noncompliant and behaving erratically following a visit to the jail’s medical clinic. — Sofi Zeman august 26, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026 Residents who encounter a bear should not approach it and should give it space to move through the area safely, and anyone facing a bear behaving aggressively or posing an immediate threat should call 911. — Sacbee.com, 13 Aug. 2026 Driscoll and others involved in the mission worried that something far less dramatic could derail it, such as an accidental weapon discharge, an isolated confrontation with a protester or a guardsman caught on camera behaving poorly. — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for behaving
  1. behaved
  2. carrying
  3. orderly
  4. acquitting
  5. conducting
  6. handling
  7. restraining
  8. composing
Adjective
  • Forget about the ill-behaved, performative fans hoping to go viral on TikTok for unseemly behavior.
    — Fred Katz, New York Times, 14 June 2026
  • For families There are a couple of (very well behaved) babies here during my stay, but no kids dive-bombing the pool, and the stairs around this maze of a property aren’t particularly stroller friendly.
    — Sarah Leigh Bannerman, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Jan. 2026
Definition of behaved
Verb
  • Today, many of those same routes have found a second life, carrying travelers through some of the West’s most spectacular scenery while offering a glimpse into Colorado’s storied past.
    — Jocelyn Rowley, Denver Post, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Guidance includes carrying ample water and supplies, checking road and weather conditions in advance and taking an alternative means of communication, such as a satellite communicator or emergency beacon.
    — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of carrying
Adjective
  • These rules are set to maintain decorum, determine the will of the majority, preserve the rights of the minority, and facilitate the orderly transaction of business.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • At times, his psychological explanations may seem almost too orderly for a woman who lived so exuberantly in disorder.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of orderly
Verb
  • Jurors at his 2025 murder trial deliberated for weeks before acquitting him on one murder count and failing to reach a verdict on another murder count.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 21 July 2026
  • Observers say the jury’s 10-2 vote in favor of acquitting Jonathan Rinderknecht was a major blow to Essayli’s office.
    — Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of acquitting
Verb
  • To get a better understanding of who this individual was, researchers have spent the past few years conducting a detailed analysis of the remains’ DNA and isotopes, and the chemical properties of the metallic artefacts and the decorative band.
    — Mike McRae August 25, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Nic Antaya / Getty Images As the calendar creeps toward September, the Detroit Red Wings are still conducting their search for their next general manager.
    — Max Bultman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of conducting
Verb
  • What those reviews don't capture is the proportion of bookings that complete without incident, which, across platforms handling millions of reservations annually, is considerably higher than review distributions suggest.
    — Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Wash hands after handling any pet food and keep children away from pet food dishes and treats.
    — Kimberly Baker, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of handling
Verb
  • In fact, Tiffany’s record shows little concern for protecting natural resources and local control, or for restraining corporate power.
    — Dan Kaufman, New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2026
  • But Gorsuch also wrote that an individual conference, through its members’ voting, can adopt various rules restraining athletes’ potential compensation as conference members see fit.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of restraining
Verb
  • Rather than composing the harmful instruction in plaintext, the hacker encrypts it.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Eisenberg wrote, directed and produced the film, also appearing in it and composing its original music and lyrics.
    — Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of composing

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behaving
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Cite this Entry

“Behaving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/behaving. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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