48 Collocations Related to Human Behaviour (with Meanings & Examples)
Hello English learners 👋 When we talk about people — their actions, attitudes, and reactions — single words are rarely enough. Native speakers rely heavily on collocations to describe human behaviour naturally and precisely.
Instead of saying “He was responsible”, we say “He took responsibility.”
Instead of “She was brave”, we say “She showed courage.”
In this lesson, you’ll learn 48 common collocations related to human behaviour, with clear meanings and natural example sentences. These expressions are especially useful for B2 First and C1 Advanced exams, as well as everyday speaking and writing.
Let’s break them down by theme so they’re easier to learn and remember.
1️⃣ Responsibility, Integrity & Trust
Accept responsibility – to acknowledge fault or duty
He accepted responsibility for the team’s failure.
Take responsibility – to be accountable for your actions
You need to take responsibility for your mistakes.
Give credit – to acknowledge someone’s contribution
Always give credit to the people who helped you succeed.
Keep your word – to do what you promised
People trust him because he always keeps his word.
Keep a promise – to fulfil a commitment
She promised to help and she kept her promise.
Show integrity – to act according to strong moral principles
He is respected for showing integrity at work.
Build trust – to develop reliability and confidence
It takes time to build trust in any relationship.
2️⃣ Emotions, Self-Control & Inner Strength
Keep calm – to stay relaxed in difficult situations
Keep calm and think clearly under pressure.
Maintain composure – to remain emotionally controlled
She maintained her composure during the interview.
Handle pressure – to cope well with stress
He handles pressure remarkably well.
Handle criticism – to respond constructively to feedback
She listens carefully and handles criticism maturely.
Show resilience – to recover quickly from difficulties
He showed resilience after several setbacks.
Show patience – to remain calm and tolerant
Teaching children requires a lot of patience.
Practice mindfulness – to stay present and aware
She practises mindfulness to reduce stress.
3️⃣ Social Behaviour & Relationships
Cultivate relationships – to develop and maintain connections
She is excellent at cultivating professional relationships.
Offer support – to provide help or encouragement
The organisation offers support to families in need.
Show empathy – to understand others’ feelings
Good leaders show empathy towards their teams.
Practice empathy – to actively develop emotional understanding
Practising empathy improves communication.
Show kindness – to be generous and considerate
Small gestures show kindness and care.
Show respect – to treat others with consideration
Always show respect for different opinions.
Keep a secret – to not reveal confidential information
Can I trust you to keep a secret?
4️⃣ Decisions, Effort & Action
Make a decision – to choose something
It’s time to make a decision about your future.
Make an effort – to try hard
He’s making an effort to improve his English.
Make a compromise – to settle differences mutually
They made a compromise to resolve the conflict.
Take action – to do something to change a situation
We must take action now.
Take control – to assume authority
She took control of the meeting.
Take the lead – to assume responsibility
He took the lead on the project.
Take a risk – to try something uncertain
Sometimes you have to take a risk to succeed.
5️⃣ Habits, Growth & Personal Development
Develop a habit – to form a regular behaviour
He developed a habit of reading every morning.
Break a habit – to stop a regular behaviour
She’s trying to break her habit of snacking late at night.
Build confidence – to increase belief in yourself
Public speaking helps build confidence.
Maintain a positive attitude – to stay optimistic
She maintains a positive attitude despite challenges.
Set an example – to behave in a way others can follow
Parents should set an example for their children.
6️⃣ Honesty, Communication & Values
Tell the truth – to be honest
You should always tell the truth.
Express an opinion – to state what you think
Everyone is free to express their opinion.
Give advice – to offer suggestions
She often gives advice to younger colleagues.
Make an apology – to say sorry formally
He made an apology for his behaviour.
Make an excuse – to justify a mistake
Don’t make excuses — learn from it.
Show appreciation – to express gratitude
It’s important to show appreciation at work.
Show gratitude – to express thanks
She showed gratitude for all the support.
Final tip
If you want to sound natural in English, stop translating single words and start thinking in collocations. These expressions are exactly how native speakers describe behaviour — calmly, clearly, and convincingly.
Learn adjectives to describe behaviour and personality here
Learn 18 nouns that describe people’s character here
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