: 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.
But even if such a case could be made, would-be censors would have to show that their solution is worth other significant costs to the free flow of ideas and the silencing of important, good-faith ideas. Jacob Hale Russell, TIME, 4 Mar. 2025 The findings suggested extended periods of time spent in the captive environment of a shelter was encouraging dogs to behave in a manner considered unattractive to would-be adopters. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025 For would-be entrepreneurs, the company’s story serves as a powerful reminder that even the most challenging markets can be entered into, and even the most entrenched incumbents can be disrupted. Alexander Puutio, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2025 The would-be business partners asked friends and family for donations. Molly Guthrey, Twin Cities, 2 Mar. 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 13 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

would-be

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

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