would-be

adjective

ˈwu̇d-ˈbē

Synonyms of would-be

: 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.

The would-be leverage guys entering spring training were Palencia, Phil Maton, Caleb Thielbar, Hoby Milner and Hunter Harvey. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026 There are still questions about the Jets’ depth after their backups allowed several would-be sacks during the preseason and in training camp practices. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026 For would-be buyers, that means waiting until 2027 may not make buying a home much cheaper. — Mike Winters, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026 Gathering the documents necessary to prove citizenship would be difficult for many would-be voters. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 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

Style

“Would-be.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/would-be. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

would-be

adjective

ˌwu̇d-ˌbē

: desiring, intending, or pretending to be

a would-be poet

would-be

adjective

Examples of would-be in a Sentence

Word History

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Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

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