behavior
behavior — noun
1. How one acts, especially toward other people or in social situations.
How one acts, especially toward other people or in social situations.
Christopher's polite behavior at the dinner table impressed his host's parents.
behavior at [place/event] — specifying context
The teacher praised the class for their excellent behavior during the field trip.
Her aggressive behavior toward the new employee caused tension in the office.
Asher's mother asked him to explain his rude behavior at the supermarket checkout.
Sofia's calm behavior during the job interview helped the manager form a good impression.
- conduct
more formal than 'behavior', often carries a moral judgment — 'professional conduct' sounds more official than 'professional behavior'
- demeanor
focuses on the outward appearance and expression of how someone acts, rather than their actions themselves
- manners
specifically about politeness and socially expected ways of acting in a culture
- misbehavior
bad or unacceptable behavior
文法句型
adjective + behavior
behavior toward/towards [person]
2. The way a living thing, such as a person, animal, or plant, acts or reacts to wh
The way a living thing, such as a person, animal, or plant, acts or reacts to what is happening around it, studied especially in science.
The researchers observed the feeding behavior of wild chimpanzees in the forest of Tanzania.
observed/study + the + __ + behavior + of + [animal]
The cat's fearful behavior before the storm made Eshe wonder if animals sense changing weather.
Certain fish change their swimming behavior as soon as the water temperature drops suddenly.
Dr. Karim published a paper on the social behaviors of ants living in underground colonies.
The patient's strange behavior after the surgery worried the night-shift nurse on duty.
- response
a more general term for any reaction to a stimulus; less tied to personality or character than 'behavior'
- reaction
suggests an immediate, often involuntary response rather than an ongoing pattern of behavior
- action
the broadest term; any thing a living creature does, without implying a stimulus or pattern
文法句型
the + behavior + of + [organism]
behavior(s) + in + [situation]
用法筆記
In formal or academic contexts, 'behaviors' (countable plural) is common for listing specific types of actions — for example, 'aggressive behaviors in caged dogs'. In everyday conversation, the uncountable form is preferred: 'The dog's aggressive behavior worried us.'
常見錯誤
3. The way a machine, substance, or system works when it is in a particular set of
The way a machine, substance, or system works when it is in a particular set of circumstances.
The engineer studied the behavior of the steel bridge under strong wind conditions.
behavior of [object] under [condition]
Scientists cannot fully explain the chemical's behavior when mixed with hot water.
The software's behavior changed completely after the operating system was updated last night.
Dario tested the elastic behavior of the rubber cord by stretching it a hundred times.
Understanding concrete's behavior at high temperatures is vital for building fire safety.
- performance
focuses on how well something works rather than how it works; more evaluation-oriented
- operation
describes the process of functioning, often of a machine or system over time
- properties
refers to the inherent characteristics of a material rather than its active functioning
文法句型
the + behavior + of + [material/substance/machine]
behavior + under/at/in + [condition]
用法筆記
Most common in engineering, chemistry, physics, and computing. Frequently used with descriptive adjectives such as 'elastic behavior', 'chemical behavior', 'thermal behavior', or 'optical behavior' to name the type of property being studied.