Meaning of behaviour in English:

noun

• 1The way in which one acts or conducts oneself, especially towards others.

  ‘he will vouch for her good behaviour’

  ‘his insulting behaviour towards me’

  as modifier ‘behaviour patterns’

  count noun ‘management is a set of techniques and behaviours for getting things done’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Nella was still angry at their patronising and arrogant behaviour towards her in those times.’
  • ‘He complained that the doctor's behaviour towards him had been inappropriate.’
  • ‘It was totally unacceptable behaviour towards people who had given you long and loyal service.’
  • ‘He was a gentleman through and through, and his behaviour towards her had never been less than proper.’
  • ‘There is no evidence of any self harm or of threatening or aggressive behaviour towards others.’
  • ‘It was tempting to condemn him for his attitude and his behaviour towards the girl.’
  • ‘They often show aggressive behavior toward health professionals when the truth of the symptoms is challenged.’
  • ‘Set a good example with your courteous behavior toward the parents of kids on the other team.’
  • ‘This forward behavior toward an adult earned him another frown from his older brother.’
  • ‘Thinking helps us to consider what is, or is not, appropriate behavior towards fellow human beings.’
  • ‘Seldom have we witnessed a more shameless display of rude and vulgar behavior towards an invited guest.’
  • ‘This could lead to writing a code of conduct to guide their behaviour with each other.’
  • ‘The tendency toward formal behavior is strengthened by the tradition of using titles.’
  • ‘This pattern of behavior continued until it was time for the first quarter's report card.’
  • ‘I don't think it is wrong, or a waste of time, to point out the virtue of manners and good behaviour.’
  • ‘The other is that the signing of the pledge was a form of indirectly enforced good behaviour.’
  • ‘Teaching is undermined by poor behaviour and teachers need practical support.’
  • ‘If this fails to moderate bad behaviour, officers will visit the family home.’
  • ‘We then had to consider whether permanent exclusion was a reasonable response to that behaviour.’
  • ‘If someone is to be responsible for this unacceptable behavior, it had to be him.’

  Synonyms

  conduct, way of behaving, way of acting, deportment, bearing, etiquette

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  1. 1.1The way in which an animal or person behaves in response to a particular situation or stimulus.
     ‘the feeding behaviour of predators’
     More example sentences

     • ‘Animals alter their behavior to avoid a variety of different types of predators.’
     • ‘Data on ancient color could tell us about the environment and behavior of animals.’
     • ‘Few other studies have correlated the influence of the full moon with behaviour of animals or insects.’
     • ‘There have been documented cases of strange animal behavior prior to earthquakes.’
     • ‘Hunger has driven him to abandon all social pretence and he describes his own animal behaviour.’
     • ‘If you treat them like animals, their behavior will begin to deteriorate.’
     • ‘Doctors are certainly bad at altering their own behaviour in response to logic.’
     • ‘He was simply mirroring my behavior, responding in kind to whatever I was doing.’
     • ‘For the life of me, I cannot understand his behaviour in response to the drugs question.’
     • ‘These have been identified as basic modes of behavior in other conflict situations.’
     • ‘Migration is an intrinsic behavior of birds that winter in one location and breed in another.’
     • ‘Very little is actually known about the movement behaviours of these animals.’
     • ‘It's not surprising that the social behavior of humans and chimps is similar, he said.’
     • ‘The female strategy has a strong influence on the stability of the male behavior.’
     • ‘All of these factors can be very important in the organization of social behavior.’
     • ‘Man's truly instinctive behaviours were apparently fewer and simpler than those of his relatives.’
     • ‘Focal animal sampling was used to collect data on the behavior of captive birds.’
     • ‘This behaviour certainly did not suggest a bird capable of sustained flight on migration.’
     • ‘This variation cannot be met by changing foraging behavior like a period with bad weather.’
     • ‘The key is knowing the behaviour pattern of horses and giving clear and consistent instructions.’
  2. 1.2The way in which a machine or natural phenomenon works or functions.
     ‘the erratic behaviour of the old car’
     More example sentences

     • ‘Perhaps this is because they mimic evolved solutions, so their behaviour seems more natural.’
     • ‘This is so the otters' food can be hidden to encourage their natural foraging behaviour.’
     • ‘In fact operating transnationally should be a natural and normal behaviour.’
     • ‘The behavior of the machine is fascinating, but it has little to do with the concept of counting.’
     • ‘We see this as a valuable perspective on reproductive behavior in natural habitats.’
     • ‘When staff became concerned by his erratic behaviour and obscene language they called police.’
     • ‘Soon though, my growing depression and erratic behaviour put a terrible strain on our love.’
     • ‘I gave up after much erratic behaviour on her part and distanced myself from fear.’
     • ‘Mary's frustration turned into rage, and her behavior became increasingly erratic.’
     • ‘What would a roomful of machines exhibiting this behavior sound like?’
     • ‘Failing to do that leaves the system open to potential behavior that falls short of the mark.’
     • ‘You only understand how human behavior functions if you look at both sides.’
     • ‘Children may have to suppress their natural behaviours and tendencies to conform and fit in, which can cause undue distress.’
     • ‘The variability of behaviors in natural settings may be a result of several factors.’
     • ‘Knowing these natural instincts and behaviors can give you some insight training your cat.’
     • ‘Ants exemplify many behaviors and phenomena which are common to other insect species.’
     • ‘In addition, the meaning of many social and emotional behaviours may not become apparent until the child is older.’
     • ‘In times of crisis, companies tend to fall back on their habitual patterns of behavior.’
     Synonyms

     functioning, action, performance, operation, working, running, reaction, response

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