: 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 visa was also seen as a way to lure talent that would have otherwise gone to the US, where new laws have priced out many would-be migrants.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 17 Oct. 2025
All three are would-be playoff contenders, and all three post some serious issues for most teams.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Aryubi, who splits his time between Afghanistan and California, plays the role of would-be executor, while Jake Youngblood Dobbs, an American travel influencer who was on a tour with Raza at the time, is the ersatz victim whom Aryubi unveils.
—T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2025
So some would-be homeowners are also feeling the pain in their paychecks—or lack thereof.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for would-be
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Ben Smith, semafor.com, 17 Oct. 2025
All three are would-be playoff contenders, and all three post some serious issues for most teams.
—James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
Aryubi, who splits his time between Afghanistan and California, plays the role of would-be executor, while Jake Youngblood Dobbs, an American travel influencer who was on a tour with Raza at the time, is the ersatz victim whom Aryubi unveils.
—T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2025
So some would-be homeowners are also feeling the pain in their paychecks—or lack thereof.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 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 20 Oct. 2025.
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