: 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
John F. BakerPossibly 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
The Cheat SheetShe's a clueless, would-be do-gooder without much self-awareness.—Maureen Ryan
Maureen RyanExamples of would-be in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There were dozens of other US fugitives of justice living in Cuba, many of them would-be revolutionaries that had arrived on the island thinking Castro’s government would provide them the military training to become the next Che Guevara but instead they were given menial jobs and forgotten.
—Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
That’s because, as Humberto shifts to steer northeast, its effect on the atmosphere around it may leave a trail that could attract the would-be storm Imelda, keeping the latter away from the East Coast.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2025
Promoting, as well as targeting, Miami-Dade County’s down payment assistance resources toward middle-income earners can get would-be buyers over the initial lump-sum hump, said Buckley.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
In some cases, would-be students were complicit in the scam.
—John Wisely, Freep.com, 25 Sep. 2025
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Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 26 Sep. 2025
That’s because, as Humberto shifts to steer northeast, its effect on the atmosphere around it may leave a trail that could attract the would-be storm Imelda, keeping the latter away from the East Coast.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 26 Sep. 2025
Promoting, as well as targeting, Miami-Dade County’s down payment assistance resources toward middle-income earners can get would-be buyers over the initial lump-sum hump, said Buckley.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
In some cases, would-be students were complicit in the scam.
—John Wisely, Freep.com, 25 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for would-be
Cite this Entry
“Would-be.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/would-be. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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