- a variation of behoove.
behove
Americanverb (used with or without object)
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behoves,
present (3rd person singular)
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behoved,
past participle, past
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behoving
present participle
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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behovesimple
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behovessimple
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have behovedperfect
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has behovedperfect
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am behovingprogressive
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are behovingprogressive
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is behovingprogressive
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have been behovingperfect progressive
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has been behovingperfect progressive
Past
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behovedsimple
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had behovedperfect
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was behovingprogressive
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were behovingprogressive
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had been behovingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of behove
Old English behōfian ; related to Middle Low German behōven
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It does not behove – behoove? – us to stoop to the level of feeding stories.
From The Guardian ● Feb. 7, 2019
If privacy really does matter to the US public, it might behove the applicants to promise some kind of action against the rise of Big Brother Inc.
From Forbes ● Apr. 15, 2015
It probably doesn't behove a rock critic to admit that his favourite radio show is something presented by Dale Winton on .
From The Guardian ● May 5, 2010
I ascertained that they wished me to perform, and it behove me to comply, that I might avoid detection.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson
“These are dreadful tidings,” said I at length, when her silence began to put me in some fear; “and you and I behove to be the more bold if the house is to be saved.”
From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. XII (of 25) by Robert Louis Stevenson
It ill behoves any prime minister to be so cavalier about such a serious issue.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 10, 2018
“It behoves upon America to work closely with the Republic of the Philippines, especially on this serious matter.”
From Reuters ● Sep. 26, 2017
Given that Mr Farron’s dilemma was a private and existential one, it hardly behoves Erasmus, or any third party, to say how he should have handled it.
From Economist ● Jun. 16, 2017
“Fellow citizens, this is a national fight, and it behoves all of us to stand together to promote the truth about this deadly disease,” Mr. Koroma said.
From Washington Times ● Jul. 31, 2014
It behoves them to recognise that intuition and tireless industry are insufficient qualifications for their imperial service, and they must themselves promote the substitution of systematic training for rule-of-thumb anomalies.
From Household Administration Its Place in the Higher Education of Women by Various
How it behoved her to despise herself, loathe herself, discipline herself!
From Chippinge Borough by Stanley J. Weyman
They were very tumbledown; indeed, an English gentleman who owned a house and gardens like the hacienda would have regarded them as an eyesore which it behoved him to remove as soon as possible.
From Swift and Sure by Herbert Strang
Jesus, who knew more than one profession, thought that it behoved him to do something for people who shewed so much zeal.
From Ecce Homo! A Critical Inquiry into the History of Jesus of Nazareth: Being a Rational Analysis of the Gospels by Paul Henry Thiry Baron d' Holbach
It behoved him to take no advantage, and, short of an indifference that might appear brutal, to leave her as much as possible to herself.
From The Abbess Of Vlaye by Stanley J. Weyman
Whatever happened, he was determined that they should not suspect him of any sinister intention, and on that account it behoved him to keep up an appearance of friendship.
From The Fire-Gods A Tale of the Congo by Charles Gilson
Sure to any behoving soul it is above a monarchy; for it includes an anointing both to a royal and priestly office, and carries a title to a kingdom incorruptible and undefiled.
From The Works of the Rev. Hugh Binning by Hugh Binning
Oh, don't be cross, miss! please not to be cross," cried Daniel, running after her; "I would tell you all about it this very instant moment, if it were behoving to me.
From Springhaven : a Tale of the Great War by R. D. (Richard Doddridge) Blackmore
So, since the principles are the cause of our knowing and behoving we know and believe them more, because by reason of them we know also the conclusion following.
From Ethics by Aristotle
To this the lady much demurred, but, it behoving her ensue her husband's pleasure, she promised to do his bidding and followed him to the saloon, to hear what Il Zima should say.
From The Decameron of Giovanni Boccaccio by John Payne
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
