: 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
Butler, Hawke and Madison shared the screen as their characters approach the homes of their would-be victims before Tarantino's movie rewrites history with the Manson cult members' deaths.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
Its distinctive profile evocative of stone cliffs, featuring a jagged outline set with diamonds serving as a metaphor for resilience, soon caught the eye of friends and would-be clients.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 14 Nov. 2025
Stories like Benzant’s aren’t public, so would-be home buyers or renters in his neighborhood would have no clear picture of the flood risk potentially awaiting them.
—Susan Merriam, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2025
In the early days of his Administration, his would-be appointments are stalled by political rivals, and his days are packed with unproductive meetings with members of the public.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for would-be
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Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 14 Nov. 2025
Its distinctive profile evocative of stone cliffs, featuring a jagged outline set with diamonds serving as a metaphor for resilience, soon caught the eye of friends and would-be clients.
—Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 14 Nov. 2025
Stories like Benzant’s aren’t public, so would-be home buyers or renters in his neighborhood would have no clear picture of the flood risk potentially awaiting them.
—Susan Merriam, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2025
In the early days of his Administration, his would-be appointments are stalled by political rivals, and his days are packed with unproductive meetings with members of the public.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 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 18 Nov. 2025.
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