Misbehave Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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misbehave
mis-be-have
Definitions
in social situations
To behave badly or inappropriately; to act in a way that is not acceptable or expected.
Synonyms
act out, act up, be naughty.
Examples of usage
- He was sent to the principal's office for misbehaving in class.
- The children were misbehaving at the party, running around and shouting.
in relationships
To behave in a way that is not socially acceptable or polite; to act in a rude or disrespectful manner.
Synonyms
act inappropriately, be disrespectful, behave badly.
Examples of usage
- She misbehaved by speaking rudely to her elders.
- He misbehaved by not following the rules of the group.
Translations
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Quick facts about “misbehave”
Misbehave is a 3-syllable verb (mis-be-have). It is pronounced /ˌmɪsbəˈheɪv/ in American English and /mɪsbɪhˈeɪv/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 2 meanings, 6 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #32,649 among the most common English words.
Origin of 'misbehave'
The word 'misbehave' originated from the combination of the prefix 'mis-' meaning 'badly' or 'wrongly' and the verb 'behave'. It first appeared in the English language in the early 17th century. The concept of behaving in a socially unacceptable manner has been a part of human society for centuries, with various cultural norms and expectations dictating what is considered appropriate behavior.
See also: behave, behavior, behaviour, misbehaving.