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Behavior vs Act - What's the difference?

behavior | act |

In countable terms the difference between behavior and act

is that behavior is an instance of the way a living creature behaves while act is a display of behaviour.

As nouns the difference between behavior and act

is that behavior is human conduct relative to social norms while ACT is a certain standardized college admissions test in the United States, originally called the {{term||American College Test}}.

As a proper noun ACT is

initialism of Australian Capital Territory|lang=en, a federal territory of Australia.

As a verb act is

to do something.

behavior

English

Alternative forms

* behaviour (everywhere except US) * (l), (l), (l), (l)

Noun

(en-noun)
  • (uncountable) Human conduct relative to social norms.
  • (uncountable) The way a living creature behaves or acts generally.
  • (uncountable, informal) A state of probation about one's conduct.
    • He was on his best behavior when her family visited.
  • (countable) An instance of the way a living creature behaves.
  • (countable, uncountable, biology, psychology) Observable response produced by an organism.
  • (uncountable) The way a device or system operates.

    • Usage notes

    * Adjectives often applied to "behavior": human, animal, physical, chemical, mechanical, electrical, organizational, corporate, social, collective, parental, interpersonal, sexual, criminal, appropriate, inappropriate, correct, incorrect, right, wrong, good, bad, acceptable, unacceptable, poor, ethical, unethical, moral, immoral, responsible, irresponsible, normal, odd, deviant, abnormal, violent, abusive, aggressive, offensive, defensive, rude, stupid, undesirable, verbal, nonverbal, learned, professional, unprofessional, adaptive, compulsive, questionable, assertive, disgusting, self-destructive.

    Related terms

    (the actions of organisms) * behave * behavioral * behavioralism * behavioralist * behaviorism * behaviorist * behavioristic * behavior pattern * behavioral science

    External links

    * * English words prefixed with be-

    act

    English

    Proper noun

    (en proper noun)
  • , a federal territory of Australia.

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A certain standardized college admissions test in the United States, originally called the (term).
  • *

    • Coordinate terms

    * (American College Test) SAT , GMAT , MCAT , DAT

    Anagrams

    * * * * English three-letter words