Standard Lemma guide

conduct

noun · verb · 22 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈkɒndʌkt/
  • US: kŏn'dŭkt
  • US: /ˈkɑndʌkt/
  • Canada: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • kəndŭkt'
  • /kənˈdʌkt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ʌkt
  • CMU ARPABET: K AA1 N D AH0 K T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: K AA0 N D AH1 K T Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The act or method of controlling or directing.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: control, guidance, management

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Skillful guidance or management.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • 1722 (first printed) Edmund Waller, Poems, &c. written upon several occasions, and to several persons Conduct of armies is a prince's art.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: leadership

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Behaviour; the manner of behaving.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Examples

  • Good conduct will be rewarded and likewise poor conduct will be punished.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bearing, behavior, deportment, demeanor

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

Plot.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: action, plot, storyline

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

Convoy; escort; person who accompanies another.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

Something which carries or conveys anything; a channel; an instrument; a conduit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

7

noun

Meaning 7

A priest hired to hold services without secure title; now a chaplain.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Qualifier: Anglicanism; obsolete outside fixed titles; Anglicanism; obsolete outside fixed titles

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

8

verb

Meaning 8

To lead, or guide; to escort.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: archaic, transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: accompany, escort, guide, lead, steer, belead

Antonyms: none provided

9

verb

Meaning 9

To lead; to direct; to be in charge of (people or tasks)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • The commander conducted thousands of troops.
  • to conduct the affairs of a kingdom

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: direct, lead, manage, oversee, run, supervise, transact, belead

Antonyms: none provided

10

verb

Meaning 10

To behave.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: reflexive, transitive

Examples

  • He conducted himself well.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: act, behave, carry on

Antonyms: none provided

11

verb

Meaning 11

To serve as a medium for conveying; to transmit (heat, light, electricity, etc.)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: carry, convey, transmit

Antonyms: none provided

12

verb

Meaning 12

To direct, as the leader in the performance of a musical composition.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

13

verb

Meaning 13

To act as a conductor (as of heat, electricity, etc.); to carry.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

14

verb

Meaning 14

To carry out (something organized)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

15

noun

Meaning 15

manner of acting or controlling yourself

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: behavior, behaviour, doings

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: activity

Narrower terms: aggression, bohemianism, dirty pool, dirty tricks, discourtesy, offense, offence, offensive activity, easiness, the way of the world, the ways of the world

16

noun

Meaning 16

(behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: demeanor, demeanour, behavior, behaviour, deportment

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: trait

Narrower terms: manners, citizenship, swashbuckling, propriety, properness, correctitude, impropriety, improperness, manner, personal manner

17

verb

Meaning 17

lead, as in the performance of a composition

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • conduct an orchestra; Barenboim conducted the Chicago symphony for years

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lead, direct

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: perform, execute, do

18

verb

Meaning 18

lead musicians in the performance of

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Bernstein conducted Mahler like no other conductor
  • she cannot conduct modern pieces

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: perform

19

verb

Meaning 19

take somebody somewhere

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • We lead him to our chief
  • can you take me to the main entrance?
  • He conducted us to the palace

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: lead, take, direct, guide

Antonyms: none provided

Narrower terms: beacon, hand, mislead, misdirect, misguide, lead astray, usher, show

20

verb

Meaning 20

transmit or serve as the medium for transmission

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Sound carries well over water
  • The airwaves carry the sound
  • Many metals conduct heat

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: impart, transmit, convey, carry, channel

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: bring, convey, take

Narrower terms: wash up, pipe in, bring in, retransmit

21

verb

Meaning 21

direct the course of; manage or control

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • You cannot conduct business like this

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: carry on, deal

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: manage, deal, care, handle

Narrower terms: racketeer

22

verb

Meaning 22

behave in a certain manner

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She carried herself well
  • he bore himself with dignity
  • They conducted themselves well during these difficult times

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: behave, acquit, bear, deport, comport, carry

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: hold, carry, bear, act, move

Narrower terms: fluster, assert, put forward, deal, walk around, pose, posture

History

Etymology

From Late Latin conductus (“defense, escort”), from Latin conductus, perfect passive participle of condūcō (“bring together”); see also conduce. Displaced native Old English þēaw. Doublet of conduit.

Across languages

Translations

220 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: во́дене (vódene) — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Bulgarian: провеждане (proveždane) — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Czech: provádění — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Finnish: toimeenpano — act or method of controlling or directing
  • German: Leitung — act or method of controlling or directing
  • German: Führung — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Hungarian: irányítás — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Hungarian: vezetés — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Hungarian: igazgatás — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Italian: conduzione — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Polish: zarządzanie — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Portuguese: conduta — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Portuguese: condução — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Romanian: conducere — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Romanian: dirijare — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Romanian: comandare — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Russian: проведе́ние (provedénije) — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Swedish: förrättning — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Swedish: förvaltning — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Swedish: ledning — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Swedish: skötsel — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Ukrainian: поведі́нка (povedínka) — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Venetan: menar — act or method of controlling or directing
  • Bulgarian: ръководене (rǎkovodene) — skillful guidance or management; generalship
  • Bulgarian: ръководство (rǎkovodstvo) — skillful guidance or management; generalship
  • Czech: vedení — skillful guidance or management; generalship
  • Czech: řízení — skillful guidance or management; generalship
  • Czech: správa — skillful guidance or management; generalship
  • Finnish: johtaminen — skillful guidance or management; generalship
  • Polish: kierownictwo — skillful guidance or management; generalship
  • Romanian: conducere — skillful guidance or management; generalship
  • Romanian: strategie — skillful guidance or management; generalship
  • Russian: управле́ние (upravlénije) — skillful guidance or management; generalship
  • Russian: руково́дство (rukovódstvo) — skillful guidance or management; generalship
  • Ukrainian: керува́ння (keruvánnja) — skillful guidance or management; generalship
  • Armenian: վարք (varkʻ) — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Asturian: conducta — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Bulgarian: поведение (povedenie) — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Catalan: conducta — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Corsican: cundutta — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Czech: chování — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Esperanto: konduto — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Esperanto: agmaniero — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Finnish: käytös — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • French: comportement — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • French: conduite — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Friulian: condote — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Gothic: 𐌿𐍃𐌼𐌴𐍄 (usmēt) — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Ancient Greek: ἀγωγή (agōgḗ) — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Hindi: आचरण (ācraṇ) — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Hindi: व्यवहार (vyavhār) — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Hungarian: viselkedés — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Hungarian: magatartás — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Hungarian: magaviselet — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Irish: béasa — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Italian: comportamento — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Italian: condotta — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Central Kurdish: ڕەوشت (rewşit) — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Kyrgyz: жүрүм (jürüm) — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Māori: whanonga — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Persian: رفتار (raftâr) — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Polish: zachowanie — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Portuguese: conduta — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Romanian: comportament — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Russian: поведе́ние (povedénije) — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Sanskrit: नीति (nīti) — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Sardinian: conduta — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Sardinian: cundhuta — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Scottish Gaelic: dol a-mach — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Scottish Gaelic: giùlan — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Sicilian: cunnutta — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Spanish: conducta — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Swedish: hållning — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Swedish: uppförande — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Swedish: uppträdande — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Swedish: vandel — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Tagalog: kaasalan — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Ottoman Turkish: حركت (hareket) — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Ukrainian: поведі́нка (povedínka) — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Venetan: condota — manner of guiding or carrying oneself
  • Czech: děj — plot of a literary work
  • Czech: zápletka — plot of a literary work
  • Polish: fabuła — plot of a literary work
  • Swedish: utförande — plot of a literary work
  • Belarusian: вадзі́ць (vadzícʹ) — lead or guide
  • Belarusian: павадзі́ць (pavadzícʹ) — lead or guide
  • Belarusian: весці́ (vjescí) — lead or guide
  • Belarusian: павесці́ (pavjescí) — lead or guide
  • Belarusian: право́дзіць impf праве́сці (pravódzicʹ) — lead or guide
  • Bulgarian: водя (vodja) — lead or guide
  • Danish: føre — lead or guide
  • Dutch: leiden — lead or guide
  • Esperanto: gvidi — lead or guide
  • Esperanto: konduki — lead or guide
  • Finnish: johtaa — lead or guide
  • Finnish: opastaa — lead or guide
  • Finnish: saattaa — lead or guide
  • Friulian: condusi — lead or guide
  • German: leiten — lead or guide
  • German: führen — lead or guide
  • Gothic: 𐌱𐍂𐌹𐌲𐌲𐌰𐌽 (briggan) — lead or guide
  • Hungarian: vezet — lead or guide
  • Ido: duktar — lead or guide
  • Ido: guidar — lead or guide
  • Irish: treoraigh — lead or guide
  • Italian: condurre — lead or guide
  • Ladin: condujer — lead or guide
  • Latin: traduco — lead or guide
  • Oromo: geggeessuu — lead or guide
  • Polish: prowadzić — lead or guide
  • Polish: poprowadzić — lead or guide
  • Polish: kierować — lead or guide
  • Portuguese: conduzir — lead or guide
  • Russian: провожа́ть (provožátʹ) — lead or guide
  • Russian: проводи́ть (provodítʹ) — lead or guide
  • Russian: сопровожда́ть (soprovoždátʹ) — lead or guide
  • Russian: сопроводи́ть (soprovodítʹ) — lead or guide
  • Swedish: föra — lead or guide
  • Swedish: leda — lead or guide
  • Swedish: ledsaga — lead or guide
  • Telugu: నడుపు (naḍupu) — lead or guide
  • Ottoman Turkish: گوتورمك (götürmek) — lead or guide
  • Ukrainian: прово́дити (provódyty) — lead or guide
  • Ukrainian: вести́ (vestý) — lead or guide
  • Armenian: վարել (varel) — direct or manage
  • Bulgarian: ръководя (rǎkovodja) — direct or manage
  • Dutch: leiden — direct or manage
  • Finnish: johtaa — direct or manage
  • Finnish: hoitaa — direct or manage
  • Hungarian: vezet — direct or manage
  • Hungarian: irányít — direct or manage
  • Ido: guidar — direct or manage
  • Māori: whakahaere — direct or manage
  • Polish: prowadzić — direct or manage
  • Polish: poprowadzić — direct or manage
  • Polish: kierować — direct or manage
  • Portuguese: conduzir — direct or manage
  • Russian: управля́ть (upravljátʹ) — direct or manage
  • Russian: руководи́ть (rukovodítʹ) — direct or manage
  • Russian: вести (vesti) — direct or manage
  • Spanish: conducir — direct or manage
  • Spanish: gestionar — direct or manage
  • Swedish: anföra — direct or manage
  • Swedish: förvalta — direct or manage
  • Swedish: handha — direct or manage
  • Swedish: leda — direct or manage
  • Swedish: sköta — direct or manage
  • Telugu: నడుపు (naḍupu) — direct or manage
  • Ukrainian: керува́ти (keruváty) — direct or manage
  • Azerbaijani: davranmaq — reflexively: behave
  • Azerbaijani: özünü aparmaq — reflexively: behave
  • Azerbaijani: rəftar etmək — reflexively: behave
  • Bulgarian: държа се (dǎrža se) — reflexively: behave
  • Dutch: zich gedragen — reflexively: behave
  • Esperanto: konduti — reflexively: behave
  • Finnish: käyttäytyä — reflexively: behave
  • French: se comporter — reflexively: behave
  • German: sich verhalten — reflexively: behave
  • German: sich benehmen — reflexively: behave
  • Gothic: 𐌿𐍃𐌼𐌹𐍄𐌰𐌽 (usmitan) — reflexively: behave
  • Hungarian: viselkedik — reflexively: behave
  • Italian: comportarsi — reflexively: behave
  • Polish: zachowywać się — reflexively: behave
  • Polish: zachować się — reflexively: behave
  • Russian: вести́ себя́ (vestí sebjá) — reflexively: behave
  • Spanish: conducirse — reflexively: behave
  • Swedish: uppföra sig — reflexively: behave
  • Ukrainian: вести́ себе́ (vestý sebé) — reflexively: behave
  • Ukrainian: пово́дитися (povódytysja) — reflexively: behave
  • Bulgarian: провеждам (proveždam) — to serve as a medium for conveying
  • Bulgarian: отвеждам (otveždam) — to serve as a medium for conveying
  • Finnish: johtaa — to serve as a medium for conveying
  • German: leiten — to serve as a medium for conveying
  • Hungarian: vezet — to serve as a medium for conveying
  • Latin: habeo — to serve as a medium for conveying
  • Polish: prowadzić — to serve as a medium for conveying
  • Russian: проводи́ть (provodítʹ) — to serve as a medium for conveying
  • Spanish: conducir — to serve as a medium for conveying
  • Swedish: föra — to serve as a medium for conveying
  • Swedish: leda — to serve as a medium for conveying
  • Bulgarian: дирижирам (dirižiram) — music: to direct
  • Czech: dirigovat — music: to direct
  • Dutch: dirigeren — music: to direct
  • Esperanto: konduki — music: to direct
  • Finnish: johtaa — music: to direct
  • German: dirigieren — music: to direct
  • Hungarian: vezényel — music: to direct
  • Italian: dirigere — music: to direct
  • Polish: dyrygować — music: to direct
  • Portuguese: conduzir — music: to direct
  • Russian: дирижи́ровать (dirižírovatʹ) — music: to direct
  • Swedish: anföra — music: to direct
  • Swedish: dirigera — music: to direct
  • Swedish: leda — music: to direct
  • Bulgarian: провеждам (proveždam) — act as a conductor (of heat, electricity, etc.)
  • Czech: vést — act as a conductor (of heat, electricity, etc.)
  • Dutch: geleiden — act as a conductor (of heat, electricity, etc.)
  • Esperanto: kondukti — act as a conductor (of heat, electricity, etc.)
  • Finnish: johtaa — act as a conductor (of heat, electricity, etc.)
  • German: leiten — act as a conductor (of heat, electricity, etc.)
  • Italian: condurre — act as a conductor (of heat, electricity, etc.)
  • Māori: kawe — act as a conductor (of heat, electricity, etc.)
  • Polish: przewodzić — act as a conductor (of heat, electricity, etc.)
  • Portuguese: conduzir — act as a conductor (of heat, electricity, etc.)
  • Russian: проводи́ть (provodítʹ) — act as a conductor (of heat, electricity, etc.)
  • Spanish: conducir — act as a conductor (of heat, electricity, etc.)
  • Swedish: leda — act as a conductor (of heat, electricity, etc.)
  • Finnish: suorittaa — to carry out
  • French: conduire — to carry out
  • French: mener — to carry out
  • German: durchführen — to carry out
  • Hungarian: végez — to carry out
  • Hungarian: elvégez — to carry out
  • Hungarian: kivitelez — to carry out
  • Hungarian: végrehajt — to carry out
  • Hungarian: lefolytat — to carry out
  • Eastern Mari: ышташ (yštaš) — to carry out
  • Polish: prowadzić — to carry out
  • Polish: przeprowadzać — to carry out
  • Polish: przeprowadzić — to carry out
Real reading context

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