well-behaved

/'welbi'heivd/

Thân thiện

A well-behaved child sits quietly and reads a book in the library.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Behaving in a correct and acceptable way: Describes a person, especially a child, who acts politely, follows rules, and does not cause trouble.
   • Showing good manners or conduct: Implies adherence to social norms and expectations of proper behavior.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The teacher praised the well-behaved students during the field trip.
  • Despite the long wait, the children remained remarkably well-behaved.
  • It's important to be well-behaved at formal events.

Advanced Usage

• "to be well-behaved": This is the standard adjectival phrase. It is typically used predicatively (after a verb like 'be', 'seem', 'remain').
  • The dog was surprisingly well-behaved around the new guests.
• The term can sometimes be used with a hint of irony or to describe something non-human that functions correctly.
  • The new software update is much more well-behaved and causes fewer crashes.

Variants and Related Words

• Well-behaved is a compound adjective. Its opposite is ill-behaved or badly-behaved.
  • The ill-behaved puppy chewed on the furniture.
• Behavior (n): The way in which one acts or conducts oneself.
  • His good behavior was rewarded.
• Behave (v): To act or conduct oneself in a specified way.
  • Please behave yourself at the restaurant.

Synonyms

• Polite: Having or showing behavior that is respectful and considerate of other people.
• Obedient: Complying or willing to comply with orders or requests; submissive to another's authority.
• Courteous: Polite, respectful, or considerate in manner.
• Disciplined: Showing a controlled form of behavior or way of working.

Antonyms

• Ill-behaved: Behaving badly.
• Disobedient: Refusing to obey rules or someone in authority.
• Unruly: Disorderly and disruptive and not amenable to discipline or control.
• Naughty: (Especially of children) behaving badly; disobedient.

Related Phrases

• To behave oneself: A reflexive verb phrase meaning to act in a proper or acceptable way.
  • The children were told to behave themselves during the ceremony.
• Model behavior: Exemplary or perfect conduct.
  • The student's model behavior set a good example for the class.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. (usually of children) someone who behaves in a manner that the speaker believes is correct
   • a well-behaved child

Từ đồng nghĩa

• well behaved