: 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 packable device simply closes between the door and its jamb, acting as another barrier against would-be intruders and as a great piece of gear for solo travelers.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2025
The first, of course, was dinosaurs, as the movie warned would-be genetican engineers the consequences of playing God.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 30 June 2025
That should tell policy planners that there’s a disconnect among would-be homebuyers and current market conditions.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Those claims alleged that the MTA failed to lock doors or block would-be subway surfers from attempting the challenges.
—ArsTechnica, 30 June 2025
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Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2025
The first, of course, was dinosaurs, as the movie warned would-be genetican engineers the consequences of playing God.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 30 June 2025
That should tell policy planners that there’s a disconnect among would-be homebuyers and current market conditions.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2025
Those claims alleged that the MTA failed to lock doors or block would-be subway surfers from attempting the challenges.
—ArsTechnica, 30 June 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 Jul. 2025.
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