Tue, 09 Sep 2025 13:53:42 EDT
Behoove
The verb Behoove (or behove with identical pronunciation) means to require, to compel, or to advantage.
In the active voice, we use behoove with a third person, often abstract, subject: Honor behooves me to act. Self-interest behooves me to act. It behooves me to act, means, It requires/compels/advantages me to act. It ill behooves me to act, means, It disadvantages me to act.
In the passive voice, an actor is the subject: I am behooved to act. The past participle functions as a subject complement adjective with the linking verb.