Join Us On

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

Thesaurus

Medical

Scrabble^®

Spanish Central

Browse Dictionary Browse Thesaurus

Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android

Dictionary

¹conduct

noun con·duct \ˈkän-(ˌ)dəkt\

: the way that a person behaves in a particular place or situation

: the way that something is managed or directed

Full Definition of CONDUCT

obsolete : escort, guide

: the act, manner, or process of carrying on : management <praised for his conduct of the campaign>

: a mode or standard of personal behavior especially as based on moral principles <questionable conduct>

See conduct defined for English-language learners

See conduct defined for kids

Origin of CONDUCT

Middle English, from Medieval Latin conductus, from Latin conducere

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to CONDUCT

Synonyms: administration, care, charge, control, direction, governance, government, guidance, handling, intendance, management, operation, oversight, presidency, regulation, running, stewardship, superintendence, superintendency, supervision

Rhymes with CONDUCT

abduct, adduct, bile duct, construct, deduct, eruct, induct, instruct, obstruct, reluct, subduct

²conduct

verb con·duct \kən-ˈdəkt also ˈkän-ˌdəkt\

: to plan and do (something, such as an activity)

: to direct the performance of (musicians or singers)

: to guide or lead (someone) through or around a place

Full Definition of CONDUCT

transitive verb

: to bring by or as if by leading : guide <conduct tourists through a museum>

a : to lead from a position of command <conduct a siege> <conduct a class>

b : to direct or take part in the operation or management of <conduct an experiment> <conduct a business> <conduct an investigation>

c : to direct the performance of <conduct an orchestra> <conduct an opera>

a : to convey in a channel

b : to act as a medium for conveying or transmitting

: to cause (oneself) to act or behave in a particular and especially in a controlled manner

intransitive verb

of a road or passage : to show the way : lead

a : to act as leader or director

b : to have the quality of transmitting light, heat, sound, or electricity

— con·duct·ibil·i·ty \kən-ˌdək-tə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— con·duct·ible \-ˈdək-tə-bəl\ adjective

See conduct defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of CONDUCT

15th century

Related to CONDUCT

Synonyms: administer, administrate, carry on, control, direct, govern, guide, handle, keep, manage, operate, overlook, oversee, preside (over), regulate, run, steward, superintend, supervise, tend, watch over

Antonyms: follow, trail

Synonym Discussion of CONDUCT

conduct, manage, control, direct mean to use one's powers to lead, guide, or dominate. conduct implies taking responsibility for the acts and achievements of a group <conducted negotiations>. manage implies direct handling and manipulating or maneuvering toward a desired result <manages a meat market>. control implies a regulating or restraining in order to keep within bounds or on a course <controlling his appetite>. direct implies constant guiding and regulating so as to achieve smooth operation <directs the store's day-to-day business>.

synonyms see in addition behave

CONDUCT Defined for Kids

¹conduct

verb con·duct \kən-ˈdəkt\

con·duct·edcon·duct·ing

Definition of CONDUCT for Kids

: to plan and put into operation from a position of command : lead <conduct a business>

: ²guide 1

: behave 1 <She conducted herself with courtesy.>

: to direct the performance of (musicians or singers)

: to have the quality of transmitting light, heat, sound, or electricity

Synonym Discussion of CONDUCT

conduct, direct, and manage mean to provide the leadership or guidance for something. conduct means leading something in person. <I will conduct the meeting.> direct is used for guiding something that needs constant attention. <Our mayor directed the building of a new school.> manage means the handling of the small items of something (as a business) or the careful guiding of something to a goal. <He's managing the president's reelection campaign.>