Behoove

Pronunciation

• IPA: /bɨˈhuːv/

Alternative forms

• behove UK

Origin

Middle English behoven, from Old English behōfian "to need", from Old English behōf+ian. Cognate with Swedish: behöva.

Full definition of behoove

Verb

1. (US) To suit; to befit
• 2002, Senator Douglas Roche, Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Parliament of Canada:I think it ill behooves the Government of Canada... to pretend that there are not these distinctions in how each of us approaches questions of security.
2. (US) To be necessary
3. (US) To be in one's best interest; to benefit
• 1803, Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Benjamin Rush:It behooves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others.
• 2007, Gary D. Schmidt, The Wednesday Wars, page 208"It behooves us to be prepared. We will begin a series of atomic bomb drills ..."
  "Becomes necessary, Mr. Hupfer," said Mrs. Baker, "as in 'It behooves us to raise our hands before we ask a question."

Related terms

• behoof
• behovely