: 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
That many would-be tourists are uninformed about the area’s water-centric amenities and stately beachfront hotels is somewhat of a curiosity.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2026
Bullwinkel and her boss, Steve Deike, came on board to attract would-be homebuyers and remake what many say is the last company town in America into a vibrant new community.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Marty Supreme is the story of Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet), a would-be table-tennis champion whose dreams of greatness are hampered by the fact that no one in 1952 New York City gives a damn about table tennis.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
One way to pressure would-be overseers into doing this nasty work is to dangle the possibility of more power and higher office at them.
—Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
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David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2026
Bullwinkel and her boss, Steve Deike, came on board to attract would-be homebuyers and remake what many say is the last company town in America into a vibrant new community.
—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Marty Supreme is the story of Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet), a would-be table-tennis champion whose dreams of greatness are hampered by the fact that no one in 1952 New York City gives a damn about table tennis.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 2 Jan. 2026
One way to pressure would-be overseers into doing this nasty work is to dangle the possibility of more power and higher office at them.
—Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 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 8 Jan. 2026.
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