: 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 Indians scored their would-be final goal in the third on a shot from Emery Simmons on a sidearm shot past Bishops’ midfielder Izzy Grundig.
—Zach McMahon, Boston Herald, 27 May 2026
Instead, Paulie’s trusted lieutenants move from person to person, talking with various would-be partners and supplicants, and then go back and whisper in Paulie’s ear.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
The would-be-safe haven, however, becomes anything but.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
Motorists move along the highway below, the same road taken by millions of would-be refugees on their final journey out, through Damascus and Amman.
—Nabil Salih, Time, 26 May 2026
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Zach McMahon, Boston Herald, 27 May 2026
Instead, Paulie’s trusted lieutenants move from person to person, talking with various would-be partners and supplicants, and then go back and whisper in Paulie’s ear.
—Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 26 May 2026
The would-be-safe haven, however, becomes anything but.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
Motorists move along the highway below, the same road taken by millions of would-be refugees on their final journey out, through Damascus and Amman.
—Nabil Salih, Time, 26 May 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 28 May. 2026.
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