Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • intransitive verb To be necessary or proper for.
  • intransitive verb To be necessary or proper.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun An obsolete form (properly dative) of behoof.
  • 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.
  • To relate to the advantage of; concern the well-being of: formerly used with a regular nominative.
  • To be necessary, suitable, or fit.
  • Also spelled behove.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun obsolete Advantage; behoof.
  • transitive verb To be necessary for; to be fit for; to be meet for, with respect to necessity, duty, or convenience; -- mostly used impersonally.
  • intransitive verb To be necessary, fit, or suitable; to befit; to belong as due.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb US To suit; to befit
  • verb US To be necessary
  • verb US To be in one's best interest; to benefit

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb be appropriate or necessary

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

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

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

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

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Examples

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

    Now It Brian Costa 2010

  • 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? BikeSnobNYC 2010

  • 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 2009

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

    AfterEllen.com - Because visibility matters 2009

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

    AfterEllen.com - Because visibility matters 2009

  • ` ` 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 2009

  • 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 2009

  • 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 2009

  • ` ` 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 2009

  • 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 2009

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