: 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.
Mayfield was good out of structure, particularly in avoiding pressure and shaking off would-be sackers. Daniel Popper, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024 After shooting their would-be assassin, Danny intercepted a call from Ramírez. Stephanie Wenger, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024 A couple of would-be interceptions that clanked off the hands of San Francisco defenders. Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024 Meanwhile, Harry has concerns outside of his would-be serial killer at home — there’s an active serial killer doing home invasions and murdering families. Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 13 Dec. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near would-be

Cite this Entry

“Would-be.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/would-be. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

would-be

adjective
ˌwu̇d-ˌbē
: desiring, intending, or pretending to be
a would-be poet
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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