behoove

[ bih-hoov ]

verb (used with object)

, be·hooved, be·hoov·ing.

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

verb (used without object)

, be·hooved, be·hoov·ing.

1. Archaic. to be needful, proper, or due:

   Perseverance is a quality that behooves in a scholar.

Word History and Origins

Origin of behoove¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English behoven, Old English behōfian “to need” ( behōf behoof + -ian infinitive suffix)

Example Sentences

The priority here appears to be the cast’s safety and comfort—an impulse that would behoove some other franchises.

From The Daily Beast

So from that end of productivity, it could potentially behoove publishers and other companies to not send their employees or force them back into an office, just because they might be working more hours if they don’t have a commute.

From Digiday

Given that microbial pathogens are a major human foe, it would behoove us to evolve some way to sniff out when others are sick.

From Time

It would behoove us to think about how we can manage, not if, but when we have major failures of the electric grid, which could happen for climate- and weather-related reasons or other reasons.

From Washington Post

So I thought it behooved us, on the 20th anniversary of starting that list, to take a harder look at what progress means.

From MIT Technology Review

If so, it would behoove Yaalon, and Melamed, to reveal the details of their conversations.

From The Daily Beast

Now as heretofore it will behoove the Editor of these pages, were it never so unsuccessfully, to do his endeavor.

From Project Gutenberg

It was not that he feared an action for breach of promise, but that, as a gentleman, it would behoove him to be true to his word.

From Project Gutenberg

Therefore it does not behoove any active man to make gratuitous additions of a peculiar nature to the law of business.

From Project Gutenberg

A private letter to me was sealed up with his will, which, of course, it would not behoove me to make public.

From Project Gutenberg

They are the men whom it would behoove you to drill a little, and tie to the halberts in a benevolent manner, if you could!

From Project Gutenberg