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
Yes, this songster was their own particular Blackbird, there was no doubt about it; and did it not behove him to build his nest as near their home as he possibly could?
From What the Blackbird said A story in four chirps by Randolph Caldecott
It ill behoves either him or Bruckner to try to frame this as evidence of a vindictive philistine world.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 1, 2019
“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
And as it behoves the owner of a lost piece of property to deal generously with the finder, who might have kept it all to himself, she no longer hesitated to resolve on the surrender.
From Translations from the German (Vol 3 of 3) Tales by Musaeus, Tieck, Richter by Thomas Carlyle
How it behoved her to despise herself, loathe herself, discipline herself!
From Chippinge Borough by Stanley J. Weyman
Then, in no long time--being a soldier--I recovered my coolness, and, retaining the power to think, decided what it behoved me to do.
From Historical Romances: Under the Red Robe, Count Hannibal, A Gentleman of France by Stanley J. Weyman
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
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
If perchance he had more to fear from man than from nature—why, it behoved him, an English boy, and a Devon boy to boot, to face his destiny with a stout heart.
From With Drake on the Spanish Main by Herbert Strang
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.
