English Lexicon

Misbehave

/ˌmɪs.bɪˈheɪv/
verbCEFR B1 (Intermediate)Top #1500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As verb
  1. 1

    To behave badly or improperly.

    "The children misbehave when they are not supervised."
  2. 2

    To act in a way that is not acceptable according to social norms.

    "He was warned not to misbehave during the school trip."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

The word 'misbehave' is derived from the prefix 'mis-' meaning 'wrongly' or 'badly' and the verb 'behave', which comes from the Old French 'behaivier', meaning 'to conduct oneself'. The term has evolved since the late 19th century to denote improper or unacceptable behavior.

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