misbehave

Everyday

1. To misbehave means to behave badly, to be naughty or not follow the rules. tree →
2. (informal) A machine that misbehaves does not work as it should: "the printer is misbehaving again". tree →

In the lessons

In school, pupils who misbehave may lose playtime or be sent to see the head. In stories, misbehaving children and pets cause trouble and fun. Phrases: misbehave in class, misbehaving pupils.

Examples

• If you misbehave, you'll miss break time. tree →
• The puppy misbehaved and chewed my shoe. tree →
• Two boys misbehaved on the school trip. tree →
• My little brother always misbehaves when he's tired. tree →
• The computer is misbehaving again. tree →
• Nobody misbehaved during the assembly. tree →

Note

Noun: misbehaviour (UK) or misbehavior (USA). The prefix mis- means "badly" or "wrongly". It is a slightly formal word; children say "be naughty" or "be bad".