behavior: meaning, pronunciation and examples

/bɪˈheɪvjər/·bih-HAYV-yer

Behavior (noun) means the way a person or animal acts.

What does “behavior” mean?

  1. 1

    nounthe way a person or animal acts

    The teacher praised the children’s good behavior.

Behavior at a glance

Part of speech
noun
CEFR level
B1 (intermediate)
Pronunciation
/bɪˈheɪvjər/ · bih-HAYV-yer

How to use “behavior” correctly

“Behavior” is uncountable in everyday use: say “his behavior was rude”, not “his behaviors”. British spelling is “behaviour”.

Common phrases with “behavior”

  • bad behavior
  • human behavior
  • change your behavior

Synonyms (similar meaning)

Word family

  • behave
  • behavioral
  • misbehave

“behavior” is on these word lists

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