verb

behoove

bih-HOOV/bɪˈhuv/

To be advisable or necessary for someone to do.

It behooves her to tie the loose shoelace before climbing the stairs.

Before climbing stairs, a woman stops to tie the loose shoelace that has caught beneath her other shoe: a concrete, visibly motivated example of something it behooves her to do.

Etymology

behooveOld Englishto have need of, have use for

Behofian meant “to have need of” or “have use for.” That connection between need and usefulness developed into the sense that something is necessary, fitting, or advantageous for someone.

In context

Hirewell12:44

it would behoove us all to put ourselves in a situation where all helping each other out by having open discussions about things

Lame Recruiting Takes That Need To Die - The 10 Minute Talent Rant [Ep 44]

More examples

It behooves every applicant to read the instructions.
It behooved the committee to explain its decision.
It may behoove you to keep a copy.

Forms

behoove · behooves · behooved · behooving

Similar words

benefit: Benefit means help; behoove means be advisable, proper, or necessary for someone.
ought: Ought expresses an obligation directly; behoove usually frames it as what is fitting or advantageous.