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
Exactly because the majority is still so hopelessly wasteful and mischievous, does it behove the minority not merely to work to some profit, but to play without damage.
From Laurus Nobilis Chapters on Art and Life by Vernon Lee
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
In the midst of abounding iniquity and multiplying error, it behoves the friends of truth to stand on the watch tower and give the people timely warning.
From Gleanings by the Way by John A. Clark
He, Terence, was going away so soon--never, in all probability, to look upon Ireland or his family again--that it behoved him to carry as few regrets as might be to his prison.
From My Lords of Strogue Vol. III, (of III) A Chronicle of Ireland, from the Convention to the Union by Lewis Wingfield
It behoved him to work on her feelings, to plead with her, to weep, to pray.
From Starvecrow Farm 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
All classes went—publicans, soldiers, even the Pharisees and Sadducees, for if this man were really a prophet sent from God, it behoved them to know all about him.
From Ortus Christi Meditations for Advent by Mother St. Paul
It behoved the chancellor to be cunning on this as on other points.
From My Lords of Strogue Vol. III, (of III) A Chronicle of Ireland, from the Convention to the Union by Lewis Wingfield
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
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
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.
