misbehave

intransitive-verb
UK: /ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪv/
US: /ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪv/

  1. To behave badly or improperly; to not follow rules or expected standards of behavior.

    1. The kids misbehave when their parents are not around.
    2. If you misbehave in class, you will have to stay after school as punishment.

  2. To act out in a disruptive or inappropriate manner, especially in a public setting or formal situation.

    1. The dog will misbehave if he is not trained properly by his owner.
    2. I hope my toddler doesn't misbehave during the important business meeting.

Synonyms

act up disobey defy err lapse offend sin trespass
misbehave transitive-verb

  1. To manage or conduct (oneself) improperly or badly.

    1. I warned him not to misbehave himself in front of his grandparents.
    2. He tends to misbehave himself when he gets nervous, which is often at parties.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "misbehave" in English means: To behave badly or improperly; to not follow rules or expected standards of behavior., To act out in a disruptive or inappropriate manner, especially in a public setting or formal situation..

The phonetic transcription of "misbehave" is /ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪv/ in British English and /ˌmɪsbɪˈheɪv/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "misbehave": act up, disobey, defy, err, lapse, offend, sin, trespass.

Example usage of "misbehave": "The kids misbehave when their parents are not around.". More examples on the page.