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)

Example Sentences

You don’t have to have Billy Flynn as your lawyer to know that when you’re a defendant, it behooves you to give the impression you couldn’t possibly have committed the act in question.

From Washington Post

If true, it would behoove the banks to come out publicly and describe their deposit position in detail.

From New York Times

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

From Literature

That’s not a criticism but an observation that behooves us all to do what we can to reduce the wealth gap.

From Washington Post

We're never going to reach herd immunity, but it behooves us as a nation to reach a herd understanding that for better or worse, we're all in this together.

From Salon