conducting
[kəndˈʌktɪŋ] /kən-ˈdəkt also ˈkän-ˌdəkt/ (ame, mw) · /kənˈdʌkt/ (bre, ipa) · [kəndˈʌktɪŋ] /kənˈdʌkt/ (ame, ipa)
conducting — noun
1. the way a person acts, especially when judged by rules of right and wrong
the way a person acts, especially when judged by rules of right and wrong
The school has a strict code of conduct that all students must follow.
code of conduct — a set of rules about behaviour
Manuela received an award for her professional conduct at the hospital.
professional conduct — behaviour at work
Lucas was suspended from the team because of his violent conduct during the match.
A police officer's conduct is expected to be honest and fair at all times.
The committee will investigate whether her conduct violated any rules.
用法筆記
Frequently paired with adjectives that judge behaviour: good conduct, bad conduct, professional conduct, criminal conduct.
常見錯誤
2. the process of planning, organizing, and carrying out an activity or business op
the process of planning, organizing, and carrying out an activity or business operation
The conduct of the election was praised by international observers.
the conduct of + noun — formal collocation for how something is managed
Imran was responsible for the conduct of daily sales operations at the store.
Poor conduct of the project led to delays and higher costs.
The board reviewed the conduct of the company's financial audits.
New rules were introduced to improve the conduct of clinical trials.
- management
More concrete and everyday; 'conduct' sounds more formal and process-focused.
- running
Informal alternative; 'the running of the office' vs. 'the conduct of operations'.
- administration
Emphasises the systems and rules side of management.
用法筆記
Common in formal written English, especially describing how a process is organized. The phrase 'the conduct of [something]' is the main structure.
常見錯誤
3. the act of leading or guiding someone from one place to another
the act of leading or guiding someone from one place to another
The safe conduct of the refugees across the border was handled by the Red Cross.
safe conduct — a formal term for protected passage
The sergeant was responsible for the conduct of the wounded soldiers from the battlefield to the field hospital.
conduct + from [place] to [place] — physical escorting/guiding
The police arranged the safe conduct of the diplomat to the airport.
The nurse was praised for her calm conduct of the elderly patients from the burning wing to the evacuation point.
用法筆記
This sense is quite formal and often appears in set phrases like 'safe conduct' (guaranteed protection during a journey). For everyday guiding, use 'guide' or 'escort'.
conducting — verb
- conductingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- conductings3rd person singular
- conductinging-ing form
- conductingedpast simple
1. to organize the steps needed to do something, for example running a scientific t
to organize the steps needed to do something, for example running a scientific test, an interview, or a study
The university is conducting a study on how sleep affects memory.
conduct + a study / research / an experiment
Nurses conducted a quick health check for every child at the summer camp.
The police are conducting an investigation into the bank robbery.
An independent expert was brought in to conduct a safety review of the factory.
The two companies will conduct a joint survey of customer satisfaction.
文法句型
conduct + noun phrase
用法筆記
Common objects include: a study, research, an experiment, a survey, an interview, an investigation, a review, a test. The sentence is often in the passive: 'The experiment was conducted by...'
常見錯誤
2. to choose how you act in front of other people, especially in settings where rul
to choose how you act in front of other people, especially in settings where rules or expectations apply to your manners
Caleb conducted himself with great dignity during the difficult meeting.
conduct oneself + with + noun phrase — formal behaviour description
The students were told to conduct themselves respectfully at the ceremony.
Iker conducted himself like a true professional throughout the job interview.
Children often learn how to conduct themselves by watching their parents.
It was clear that the young lawyer knew how to conduct himself in court.
- behave
More common and less formal; 'behave' doesn't need a reflexive pronoun ('He behaved well').
- comport oneself
Very formal; rarely used in everyday English.
- act
Simple and everyday; 'act' can describe any action, not just behaviour.
- misbehave
The direct opposite — to act badly.
文法句型
conduct oneself + adverb
用法筆記
Almost always used reflexively ('conduct oneself') followed by an adverb or prepositional phrase describing the manner of behaviour. This is a formal alternative to 'behave'.
常見錯誤
3. to lead or guide someone to a place, often with a sense of formality or purpose
to lead or guide someone to a place, often with a sense of formality or purpose
The butler conducted the guests into the grand dining room.
conduct + someone + into/to + place
A security guard conducted the visitors out of the building during the fire alarm.
Obi conducted the elderly woman to a seat near the front of the bus.
The head teacher conducted the parents around the new school building.
文法句型
conduct + noun + prepositional phrase
用法筆記
More formal than 'take' or 'lead'. Often used in service contexts (waiters, ushers, guides) or formal escorting.
4. to take someone around a building, city, or area while explaining it to them
to take someone around a building, city, or area while explaining it to them
An archivist conducted us through the library's rare book collection.
conduct + someone + through + place — showing and explaining
Beatriz conducted the new employees around the factory floor on their first day.
The museum offers guided tours where staff conduct visitors through each gallery.
Ilan conducted his relatives around his hometown during their holiday visit.
A student volunteer conducted the visitors around the university campus.
- show around
Much more informal and common in everyday speech.
- guide
The most natural word for this meaning; 'guide' focuses on explaining the place.
文法句型
conduct + someone + around/through + place
用法筆記
Closely related to sense 3 (LEAD), but the focus here is on showing and explaining a place, not just leading someone there. 'Conduct a tour' is a common fixed phrase.
5. to lead an orchestra, choir, or band by using hand gestures and a baton to shape
to lead an orchestra, choir, or band by using hand gestures and a baton to shape the way the group plays a musical work
Kian has always dreamed of conducting a famous symphony orchestra.
conduct + orchestra / choir / band / ensemble
The choir was conducted by a young musician from Vienna.
Dario conducted Beethoven's Ninth Symphony at the concert hall last Saturday.
Mei raised her baton and began to conduct the orchestra with great energy.
The school's music teacher conducts the student band every Friday afternoon.
文法句型
conduct + orchestra / choir / piece
用法筆記
The person who does this is a 'conductor'. The tools of the work include a baton (a thin stick) and hand gestures. Can be used with or without a direct object: 'He conducts beautifully.'
常見錯誤
6. to allow heat, electricity, sound, or light to travel through a substance
to allow heat, electricity, sound, or light to travel through a substance
Copper is commonly used in wiring because it conducts electricity very well.
metal + conducts + electricity/heat — scientific property
Wood does not conduct heat the way metal does.
The human body can conduct electricity, which is why electric shocks are dangerous.
Aluminium is a light metal that conducts heat quickly, making it useful for cooking pots.
Some materials conduct sound better than others, which affects how rooms are built.
- insulate
To block or prevent heat, electricity, or sound from passing through.
文法句型
conduct + heat/electricity + through + noun
用法筆記
The opposite is 'insulate' — to prevent heat or electricity from passing through. The noun form is 'conductor' for materials that allow transmission, and 'insulator' for those that block it.