: 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
Ayers has a plus arm and has plus power, flashing it more in the Arizona Fall League last year (where his exit velocity peaked at 111 mph) than in the regular season, since Myrtle Beach is a graveyard for would-be home runs.
—Keith Law, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
But the entire document is worth reading now that the country is struggling against a would-be king.
—Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
The steep rent and the shabby condition of the building, which significantly increases the overall costs of taking it on, have warded off other would-be buyers.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 3 Feb. 2026
For comparison, the Lincoln Memorial, which sits opposite the Memorial Bridge of the would-be arch site, is 99 feet tall.
—CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
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Keith Law, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
But the entire document is worth reading now that the country is struggling against a would-be king.
—Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
The steep rent and the shabby condition of the building, which significantly increases the overall costs of taking it on, have warded off other would-be buyers.
—Kim Velsey, Curbed, 3 Feb. 2026
For comparison, the Lincoln Memorial, which sits opposite the Memorial Bridge of the would-be arch site, is 99 feet tall.
—CBS News, 2 Feb. 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 10 Feb. 2026.
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