- 1 [uncountable] the way that somebody behaves, especially towards other people good/bad behaviour social/sexual/criminal behaviour His behaviour towards her was becoming more and more aggressive. Wordfinderbehaviouraction, approach, attitude, behaviour, conform, eccentric, etiquette, habit, manners, morality Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveexemplary, good, acceptable, … verb + behaviour/behavioraffect, control, influence, … behaviour/behavior + nounpattern, modification, issues, … prepositionbehaviour towards/toward phrasesbehaviour and attitudes, be on your best behaviour, a code of behaviour, … See full entry
- 2 [uncountable, countable] the way a person, an animal, a plant, a chemical, etc. behaves or functions in a particular situation the behaviour of dolphins/chromosomes studying human and animal behaviour (specialist) to study learned behaviours Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveexemplary, good, acceptable, … verb + behaviour/behavioraffect, control, influence, … behaviour/behavior + nounpattern, modification, issues, … prepositionbehaviour towards/toward phrasesbehaviour and attitudes, be on your best behaviour, a code of behaviour, … See full entry Word Originlate Middle English: from behave, on the pattern of demeanour, and influenced by obsolete haviour from have.Extra examples Animals in zoos often display disturbed behaviour. He had his jail term cut for good behaviour. I know you were upset, but that doesn’t excuse your behaviour. Parents can influence the behaviour of their children. Parents should reinforce good behaviour. Teachers can’t always respond effectively to problem behaviour. a new study looking at the behaviour and attitudes of young men a report of suspicious behaviour his behaviour towards his parents good/bad behaviourIdioms
(especially US English behavior) noun jump to other results
BrE BrE//bɪˈheɪvjə(r)//; NAmE NAmE//bɪˈheɪvjər//
to behave in the most polite way you can
Check pronunciation: behaviour
