behoove

American  

[bih-hoov] / bɪˈhuv /

especially British, behove

verb (used with object)

behooved, behooving

1. to be necessary or proper for, as for moral or ethical considerations; be incumbent on.

   It behooves the court to weigh evidence impartially.

2. to be worthwhile to, as for personal profit or advantage.

   It would behoove you to be nicer to those who could help you.

   Synonyms:

   beseem, befit, suit, advance, better, serve, advantage, benefit

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verb (used without object)

behooved, behooving

1. Archaic. to be needful, proper, or due.

   Perseverance is a quality that behooves in a scholar.

Etymology

Origin of behoove

First recorded before 900; Middle English behoven, Old English behōfian “to need” ( behōf behoof + -ian infinitive suffix)

Explanation

To behoove someone to do something is to make it advisable or necessary to do so, for their own good or that of others. It would behoove you to study hard and work for the future you desire. It would behoove the legislature to pass a law behooving citizens to pay their taxes earlier. Behoove comes from the Old English word behofian, which means "to be of use."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

behoove behooved behooving

One would think, in order to rise to the level of a Supreme Court justice, it would behoove a person to be fond of a rigorous debate.

From Salon ● Apr. 22, 2026

“It would behoove the owners to do right by us at the bargaining table.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2023

This is a major trust issue for a lot of couples, and a serious one, so it may also behoove you to see a marriage counselor to talk it out.

From Slate ● Aug. 3, 2023

But sleep is strange: Why would it behoove organisms to shut out the environment for hours and hours, making themselves vulnerable to predators and other dangers?

From Scientific American ● Jun. 16, 2023

Would it not behoove the Department of Homeland Security to add a name to their roster of dangerous individuals?

From "Zeitoun" by Dave Eggers

In 2008, when it behooved the industry to echo the calls for change, hope and progress, that’s where they marshaled their resources.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 22, 2023

And so, with the team now dragging through its first prolonged slump of the season, it behooved coach Dave Hakstol’s group to start boosting its home mark any way it could.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 18, 2022

If you had a roof over your head, then it behooved you to share it with others, no matter the financial and spiritual cost—giving might make someone else, anyone else, better.

From The New Yorker ● Oct. 25, 2018

Before obtaining more, it behooved me to ascertain the cause of Osgood’s death.

From Nature ● Mar. 20, 2018

It behooved them, therefore, to try to determine the legitimacy of the other claims.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

But after July 31, the two teams will not play again, behooving the Mariners to not let the early chances to beat the Astros go to waste.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 17, 2022

He assumed with her at once that she was saved, that he was in the way of being lost, and that his behooving was to listen to her meekly.

From The Lions of the Lord A Tale of the Old West by Wilson, Harry Leon

And again: Sweet, in whom all things behooving, Virtue, brightness, beauty, meet, Little troubles thee this loving, Thou art safe above it, sweet.

From Studies in Medi?val Life and Literature by McLaughlin, Edward Tompkins

Straighter he stood, and had achieved some praise In other exercise, much more behooving A soldier's taste than merely dirt removing.

From Complete Poetical Works by Harte, Bret