: 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 options for a would-be space entrepreneur who wants to control their own access to space are limited.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
But this is the time of year when all kinds of would-be experts emerge at your family barbecues and from your satellite radios, ready to talk about bloodlines, broodmares and ambient temperatures when the track gets muddy in Santa Anita.
—Peter Keating, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Still, the would-be Clevelander developers have yet to submit a formal application to the city.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2025
Ian McDiarmid finally gets the chance to take the mask off as the would-be Emperor and reveals the character’s full, snarling villainy.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 28 Apr. 2025
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Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 2 May 2025
But this is the time of year when all kinds of would-be experts emerge at your family barbecues and from your satellite radios, ready to talk about bloodlines, broodmares and ambient temperatures when the track gets muddy in Santa Anita.
—Peter Keating, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Still, the would-be Clevelander developers have yet to submit a formal application to the city.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2025
Ian McDiarmid finally gets the chance to take the mask off as the would-be Emperor and reveals the character’s full, snarling villainy.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 28 Apr. 2025
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 14 May. 2025.
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