To behoove someone means that something is necessary, proper, or advantageous for them to do. When something behooves you, it's in your best interest to do it, or it's the right and sensible thing to do given your situation.

If a teacher says, “It would behoove you to study for tomorrow's quiz,” she means studying is the smart, responsible choice. The word carries a sense of duty or wisdom: doing what behooves you is what the situation calls for, combining good sense with appropriateness.

You might hear that it behooves a team captain to set a good example, or that it behooves someone who borrowed a book to return it on time. The word suggests that your role, position, or circumstances make certain actions particularly appropriate or necessary.

Behoove is somewhat formal and old-fashioned, so you won't hear it in casual conversation as often as words like “should” or “ought.” But it adds weight and seriousness when used. When someone says something behooves you, they're pointing out what your responsibilities or your own interests demand, going beyond mere suggestion.