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Definitions

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

  1. v. To be necessary or proper for: It behooves you at least to try.
  2. v. To be necessary or proper.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

  1. To be fit or meet for, with respect to necessity, duty, or convenience; be necessary for; become: now used only in the third person singular with it as subject.
  2. To relate to the advantage of; concern the well-being of: formerly used with a regular nominative.
  3. To be necessary, suitable, or fit.
  4. Also spelled behove.
  5. n. An obsolete form (properly dative) of behoof.

Wiktionary

  1. v. To suit; to befit.
  2. v. To be necessary.
  3. v. To be in one's best interest.

GNU Webster's 1913

  1. v. To be necessary for; to be fit for; to be meet for, with respect to necessity, duty, or convenience; -- mostly used impersonally.
  2. v. To be necessary, fit, or suitable; to befit; to belong as due.
  3. n. Advantage; behoof.

WordNet 3.0

  1. v. be appropriate or necessary

Etymologies

  1. Middle English behoven, from Old English behōfian; see kap- in Indo-European roots.

Examples

  • “In the meantime, it would behoove all of us "behoove" means something that causes you to grow hooves to remember the true spirit of "Bike Month," which is, of course, all about health, respect, safety, fanny-packs, and gigantic "Fred" rides.”

    The Indignity of Bike Month: (What's So Funny 'Bout) Cleats, Love and Understanding?

  • “Yankees co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner told the Associated Press it would " behoove " Mr. Lee to sign with the Yankees.”

    The Wall Street Journal: Now It

  • “I humbly bow to the power of "behoove", unfortunatly since I mostly speak swedish daily it would seem slightly crazy to slip in "behoove" anywhere at all.”

    AfterEllen.com - Because visibility matters

  • “Never heard the word "behoove" before, have I've been missing out?”

    AfterEllen.com - Because visibility matters

  • “Liu posted his letter to Brown on his campaign (for City Comptroller) website: "It's outrageous and insulting for you to suggest it would 'behoove' us to adopt another name, to give up our birthright and a part of our own identity, in order to exercise our right to vote" and suggest she resign if she doesn't apologize.”

    Gothamist

  • “In a letter to Brown, Liu said Thursday: "It's outrageous and insulting for you to suggest it would 'behoove' us to adopt another name, to give up our birthright and a part of our own identity, in order to exercise our right to vote.”

    Statesman - AP Sports

  • “` ` It's outrageous and insulting for you to suggest it would 'behoove' us to adopt another name, to give up our birthright and a part of our own identity, in order to exercise our right to vote, '' he said.”

    --1010 WINS Newswatch Headlines

  • “What is the difference between 'behoove' and 'behove'?”

    The Hindu - Front Page

  • “With all the information available, pro and con, in many types of media to inform ones self about health care, it would behoove commentators on this site to post truthful comments rather than emotional rants.”

    'None of this is easy,' Obama aide says of health care reform

  • “It will behoove republicans not to make this an issue when they clearly are out of touch with the african-american and latin american communities.”

    White House says Obama does not regret Gates comments

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‘behoove’ has been looked up 3367 times, loved by 9 people, added to 77 lists, and has a Scrabble score of 15.