: desiring, intending, professing, or having the potential to be
tips for would-be mothers and fathers
The conference, held over the Labor Day weekend, drew 1200 to 1300 writers and would-be writers to the Hawaiian island this year …John F. Baker
Possibly the most hilarious and outrageous character was Joey Tribbiani, a would-be actor who struggles to find success in his chosen profession …The Cheat Sheet
She's a clueless, would-be do-gooder without much self-awareness.Maureen Ryan

Examples of would-be in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Throughout practice, McDonald regularly pressured Fields and registered a would-be sack. Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 26 May 2025 Devor’s film examines would-be presidential assassin Sara Jane Moore, now 95, who attempted to kill Gerald Ford in 1975. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 26 May 2025 Even as concerns over college costs are driving more would-be college students to rethink their plans, college savings accounts are still as vital as ever. Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 25 May 2025 Before, both the test and the 16 weeks of training sessions could be taken only in a single pool in Manhattan, which meant burdensome commutes for many would-be recruits. Alyce McFadden, New York Times, 25 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for would-be

Word History

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of would-be was in 1647

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Cite this Entry

“Would-be.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/would-be. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

would-be

adjective
ˌwu̇d-ˌbē
: desiring, intending, or pretending to be
a would-be poet

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