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to behoove

to behoove

20 9.5
To be right or necessary for someone to do something
  • verb
  • /bɪˈhuːv/
  • Formal
translation icon : convenir
  • It might behoove us to turn back at this point.
  • it behooves educators
  • it behooves teachers
  • it behooves researchers

But how do I just operate in a way that behooves everyone?

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Examples

  • Therefore, it would behoove athletic departments to gauge their suite prices to those of their conference peers.

    Academic text (2017)
  • "So it would behoove you to take the time to thank your parents.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • And it would behoove all of us to think more about the business aspect of it.

  • Then it would behoove me to retain the services of an attorney.

  • It might behoove you... to learn a little respect.

  • And if you are passing a someone you think is a difficult client on to someone you know, it behooves you to tell them.

  • In times such as these, it behooves us all not merely to study the past, but to look to the future.

  • At the rate that tropical ecosystems are deteriorating, however, it would behoove us to begin to think seriously about management.

    Academic text (1992)
  • Obviously, it would behoove interviewers to study the desired competencies and critical behaviors before interviewing applicants.

    Academic text (1997)
  • It would behoove you to prepare thoroughly for the job interview to increase your chances of success.

Synonyms

to require
vsto behoove
1.1

Need something because a rule or situation makes it necessary

focuses on something being appropriate or a personal duty rather than rule-based

How Appropriate

to behoove
  • Formal
20 9.5
to suit
303 1.9
to befit
25 6.8

Surface Forms

behoove infinitive
behooved past
behooved past participle
behooving present participle
behooves third person singular

Morphology

behoove = behove + be (opaque) = be + hoove

Although historically analyzable as be- + hoove/behove, the construction is archaic and not productive in modern English, so learners cannot reliably infer the meaning from its parts.

Etymology

The word behoove comes from old English parts be- and hofian, which meant 'to be of use' or 'to be necessary'. So, if something 'behooves' you, it is your duty or it would be useful and right for you to do it.