What does behooves mean?

4 Answers



Behooves
Behoove comes from the Old English word behofian, which means "to be of use."

Responsibility for someone to do something.

-intransitive verb. : to be necessary, fit, or proper



Example


It would behoove my husband to take his medication as his doctor instructed.

  1. If you seriously want to get your driving permit, it would behoove you to start studying for the computer test

Conclusion


The formal negative formation is ill behoove. Again, the informal use is much more common and is does not behoove. Outside the United States, behoove is spelled with one o. Interestingly, behoof comes from the same Old English behōf or profit.

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The term "Behooves" means that it is right for someone to do something as it is their duty or responsibility, or that it is particularly appropriate or suitable.

However, this word is considered very formal and is very rarely used in modern English, especially American English. Better alternatives would be:

  • It would be good to...

  • It is sensible to...

  • It is advisable to...

  • It would be fitting to...

  • You should...

  • It would benefit you to...

  • It would be worthwhile to...

  • It would be proper to...

Example Sentences:

"It behooves us to consider our financial situation."

"It would behoove you to study English everyday."

"Before buying any exercise equipment, it would behoove you to take the time to try out the machine."

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What does "behoove" mean?


Behoove = fit

Definition of behoove

  1. verb (used with object).

to be necessary or proper for, as for moral or ethical considerations; be incumbent on.

to be worthwhile to, as for personal profit or advantage

  1. verb (used without object),

Archaic. to be needful, proper, or due.



Examples:

It behooves the court to weigh evidence impartially.

It would behoove you to be nicer to those who could help you.
Perseverance is a quality that behooves in a scholar.

“It behooves us to reflect on this matter”

Does it really behoove IndyCar to turn away willing and paying participants?

These guys would all behoove themselves to just stay off Twitter.

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What does behooves mean?

Definition of behoove

transitive verb. : to be necessary, proper, or advantageous for it behooves us to go.



Recent Examples on the Web

Crown them with coal nuggets, handling Such antiquity as behooves it, For out of this darkness, light.— Hartford Courant, courant.com, 17 May 2018

Does it really behoove IndyCar to turn away willing and paying participants?— Jim Ayello, Indianapolis Star, 3 Apr. 2018

These guys would all behoove themselves to just stay off Twitter.— NBC News, 18 Mar. 2018

Lawrence — and anyone who operates on a serial-monogamy MO — should know that STIs are out there, and prevention behooves all of us.— Maria Del Russo, Glamour, 8 Mar. 2018

All of which behooves the rebuilding Brewers – who took a big step forward with 86 victories in 2017 – to primarily build a solid pitching staff from within their own ranks.— Tom Haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12 Dec. 2017



  • it is appropriate or suitable; it befits.



  • "it ill behooves the opposition constantly to decry the sale of arms to friendly countries"


Where did behoove come from?

Behoove comes from the Old English word behofian, which means "to be of use."

Behoove entered English before the end of the 9th century.

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