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behoove definition

be·hoove (bē ho̵̅o̅v′, bi-)

transitive verb behooved -·hooved′, behooving -·hoov′·ing

to be necessary for or incumbent upon it behooves you to think for yourself

Etymology: ME bihofian < OE behofian, to have need of < behoof

intransitive verb

Now Rare to be morally necessary or proper

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

behoove Synonyms

behoove

v.

be incumbent upon, be necessary, be required, be expected, be requisite, be needful, be one's obligation, be right, be proper, owe it to, be fitting, become, be worthwhile, be advantageous, benefit, profit.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

behoove Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • not: Again it does not behoove the historian to speculate or embroider on the precise significance of the words employed.
behoove usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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"behoove." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
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APA Style

behoove. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/behoove

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