behove

[US]/bɪ'həʊv/
[UK]/bɪ'hov/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

vi. be necessary or proper
vt. be necessary or proper for; be incumbent upon
Word Forms
Third Person Singularbehoves
Pluralbehoves
Past Tensebehoved
Past Participlebehoved
Present Participlebehoving

Example Sentences

It behoves that I be silent.

It behoves to write to her.

it behoves the House to assure itself that there is no conceivable alternative.

It behoves a child to obey his parents.

with behove allow you come again my adjacency.

Real-world Examples

But it might behove farmers to think more about how they use anti-worm drugs.

Source: The Economist - Technology

But to break the chain, it behoves even the symptomless to assume that they might be infected.

Source: The Economist (Summary)

As we stand on the precipice of a new decade, it behoves us to tune our ears to this vibrant continent.

Source: 2023-41

Isabel's brothers were unable to leave their distant posts and so it behoved him to make the irksome journey to Chicago to give his niece away.

Source: Blade (Part 1)

I believe that we shall always be ignorant of the matters which it most behoves us to know, and therefore I cannot occupy myself with them.

Source: Magician

" I shall do something too, of course, till-till- Well, now I can't be useful in the lettering it behoves me to turn my hand to something else" .

Source: Jude the Obscure (Part Two)

But now, when, obliged by the duties of his situation, He must enter occasionally into the world, and be thrown into the way of temptation, it is now that it behoves him to show the brilliance of his virtue.

Source: Monk (Part 1)

Accordingly, Mr. Stryver inaugurated the Long Vacation with a formal proposal to take Miss Manette to Vauxhall Gardens; that failing, to Ranelagh; that unaccountably failing too, it behoved him to present himself in Soho, and there declare his noble mind.

Source: A Tale of Two Cities (Original Version)

If anything could turn her, I should ha' turned her, for I've talked to her for a hour on end, and scolded her too; for she's my own sister's child, and it behoves me to do what I can for her.

Source: Adam Bede (Part Two)

Popular Words

Explore frequently searched vocabulary

Download App to Unlock Full Content

Want to learn vocabulary more efficiently? Download the DictoGo app and enjoy more vocabulary memorization and review features!

Download DictoGo Now