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Behooved Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

๐Ÿ”
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behooved

[bษชหˆhuหvd ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

general use

To be behooved means to be necessary or proper for someone to do something. It often conveys a sense of duty or obligation, suggesting that a particular action is beneficial or warranted in a given situation.

Synonyms

necessitate, obligate, require.

Examples of usage

  • It would behoove you to prepare for the exam.
  • It has always behooved parents to teach their children about responsibility.
  • In this situation, it behooves us to act quickly.
  • If you are to succeed, it will behoove you to learn from your mistakes.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'behooved'

The word 'behoove' comes from the Old English 'behลfian', which means 'to be fitting or necessary'. This term evolved through Middle English as 'behoeven'. Its roots can be traced back to the Proto-Germanic *bi-hลfลnฤ…, which conveys the idea of needing or requiring. The usage of 'behoove' has shifted over the centuries from a more common vernacular to a somewhat formal or literary tone, often used to imply that something is important for moral or practical reasons. By the time 'behoove' appeared in modern English, it had taken on a sense of formality, often found in legal or literary contexts. Today, it's primarily used in a more rhetorical sense, suggesting an obligation to act appropriately, especially in social situations.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,206, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.