Meaning & use

behoove

verb·Advanced

To be necessary, appropriate, or in someone's best interest to do something.

See it in a sentence

It would behoove you to double-check the contract before signing it.

It behooves every citizen to understand how their local government works.

A note on using this word

Behoove almost always appears in the pattern 'it behooves someone to do something,' and is formal, often used to give advice or urge caution.

Words with a similar meaning

befit

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

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