: 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
The would-be heisters perform exactly as expected, and once again, Elsbeth and Kaya have helped their colleague get their man.
—Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
The deer, knowing by some mysterious means that his would-be slayer is a novice, stands still, looking with amusement at buck fever’s latest victim.
—Jack O’Connor, Outdoor Life, 6 Nov. 2024
That’s a stain that won’t wash away from this would-be American oligarch no matter who wins.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
His years of relationship-building with faith groups cannot be replicated by would-be challengers overnight.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for would-be 
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Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
The deer, knowing by some mysterious means that his would-be slayer is a novice, stands still, looking with amusement at buck fever’s latest victim.
—Jack O’Connor, Outdoor Life, 6 Nov. 2024
That’s a stain that won’t wash away from this would-be American oligarch no matter who wins.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
His years of relationship-building with faith groups cannot be replicated by would-be challengers overnight.
—Ali Breland, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for would-be
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 15 Nov. 2024.
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