conduct
Americannoun
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personal behavior; way of acting; bearing or deportment.
- Synonyms:
- manners, actions, comportment, demeanor
-
direction or management; administration.
the conduct of a business.
- Synonyms:
- government, guidance
-
the act of conducting; guidance.
The curator's conduct through the museum was informative.
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Obsolete. a guide; an escort.
verb (used with object)
-
to behave or manage (oneself).
He conducted himself well.
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to direct in action or course; manage; carry on: to conduct a test.
to conduct a meeting;
to conduct a test.
- Synonyms:
- administer, supervise
-
to direct (an orchestra, chorus, etc.) as leader.
-
to lead or guide; escort.
to conduct a tour.
-
to serve as a channel or medium for (heat, electricity, sound, etc.).
Copper conducts electricity.
verb (used without object)
-
to lead.
-
to act as conductor, or leader of a musical group, by communicating a specific interpretation of the music to the performers by motions of a baton or the hands.
noun
-
the manner in which a person behaves; behaviour
-
the way of managing a business, affair, etc; handling
-
rare the act of guiding or leading
-
rare a guide or leader
verb
-
(tr) to accompany and guide (people, a party, etc) (esp in the phrase conducted tour )
-
(tr) to lead or direct (affairs, business, etc); control
-
(tr) to do or carry out
conduct a survey
-
(tr) to behave or manage (oneself)
the child conducted himself well
-
Also (esp US): direct. to control or guide (an orchestra, choir, etc) by the movements of the hands or a baton
-
to transmit (heat, electricity, etc)
metals conduct heat
Usage
What are other ways to say conduct?
To conduct oneself is to behave or manage oneself. To conduct a tour is to lead or guide it. How does conduct compare to synonyms guide, direct, and lead? Find out on Thesaurus.com.
Synonym Usage
See behavior.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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conductibilitynoun
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nonconductibleadjective
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preconductverb (used with object)
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reconductverb (used with object)
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unconductibleadjective
-
nonconductibilitynoun
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conductibleadjective
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has conductedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have conductedperfect
-
are conductingprogressive
-
is conductingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
has been conductingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
conductssingular 3rd person
-
conductingparticiple
-
am conductingprogressive 1st person singular
-
have been conductingperfect progressive
Past
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had conductedperfect
-
was conductingprogressive singular
-
conductedsimple
-
had been conductingperfect progressive
-
conductedparticiple
-
were conductingprogressive plural
Future
Etymology
Origin of conduct
First recorded in 1250–1300; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin conductus “escort,” noun use of Latin conductus (past participle of condūcere “to lead, bring together”), equivalent to con- con- + duc- “to lead” + -tus past participle suffix; replacing Middle English conduyt(e), from Anglo-French, from Latin as above; see conduit; conduce
Explanation
The noun conduct refers to behavior, like how students are rewarded for good conduct. The verb conduct means carry something through, as in "to conduct a survey." And if you lead an orchestra, you conduct it. Your conduct (accent on the first syllable), or your own behavior, is the way you conduct (accent on the second syllable), or lead, yourself. Keep the accent on the second syllable to conduct, or lead, an orchestra, and to conduct an interview by asking someone questions. Also, metals like copper or gold conduct electricity by letting the electricity pass through.
Vocabulary lists containing conduct
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
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Jim Burke's Academic Vocabulary List
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Lead the Way: Duc and Duct
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“But then it was overturned, and they said that it’s really actual parenting intent and conduct that determines who is a parent.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
"She was loved, respected and admired by people throughout the kingdom. She was kind, talented and of exemplary conduct," Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Friday in a televised address.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
Deputy Gov. Ryozo Himino will serve as acting chairman for the upcoming meeting, while Deputy Gov. Shinichi Uchida will conduct the post-meeting press conference, according to the central bank.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
When assessing violent conduct, the VARs are told to look for a clenched fist as a sign of aggression.
From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026
Afternoon arrived: Mrs. Fairfax assumed her best black satin gown, her gloves, and her gold watch; for it was her part to receive the company,—to conduct the ladies to their rooms, &c.
From "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
