: 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 only time Eszterhas ever came close to directing came at the behest of Steven Spielberg on an extremely unlikely would-be collaboration.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
Like every would-be playoff team, Portland had endured deflating losses and confidence-boosting victories.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 Apr. 2026
In 2015, the Los Angeles Times reported Villaraigosa was a consultant to Herbalife, a controversial multi-level marketing company that critics say prays on low-income would-be entrepreneurs.
—Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026
The response underscores the intensity of the speculative mania around AI, which has fueled stampedes into would-be winners and panicked rushes away from any industry that seems poised to be hit by the competitive threat.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for would-be
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Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
Like every would-be playoff team, Portland had endured deflating losses and confidence-boosting victories.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 15 Apr. 2026
In 2015, the Los Angeles Times reported Villaraigosa was a consultant to Herbalife, a controversial multi-level marketing company that critics say prays on low-income would-be entrepreneurs.
—Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026
The response underscores the intensity of the speculative mania around AI, which has fueled stampedes into would-be winners and panicked rushes away from any industry that seems poised to be hit by the competitive threat.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026
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 19 Apr. 2026.
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