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.

LendingTree advises would-be parents to start a dedicated savings fund early, even years before a child arrives, and to park it in a high-yield savings account so interest can compound. — Martie Bowser, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026 Abramson said Romero is a hero police officer who was awarded the Combat Cross for being involved in a shootout with would-be robbers at his family's laundromat. — Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 This—along with the callous abandonment of trans rights by Democratic politicians from Gavin Newsom in California to James Talarico in Texas—will hurt the Democrats’ ability to turn out would-be voters on the left, especially among the young. — Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2026 At the climax, a handful of right-wing would-be militia men are used as the butt of the joke in an elaborate sequence that’s all about foiling terrorists. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 22 Oct. 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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Style

“Would-be.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/would-be. Accessed 27 Oct. 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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Kids Definition

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