: 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 consequences of some of his nation’s targeting decisions have complicated the White House’s goals, including the killing of would-be Iranian negotiators and a strike at an Iranian energy facility that prompted Tehran to retaliate by hitting a massive gas field in Qatar.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
Plenty of would-be heroes pass through the inn on their way to save the world, and Nell is responsible for keeping the place running, serving food, and making sure all those annoying questers don’t cause too much chaos.
—Caroline Carlson, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
The same goes for Brooks, who had a league-leading 183 tackles last season and regularly takes on ball carriers and would-be blockers with equal violence.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
For years, would-be first-time homebuyers have complained about the skimpy inventory of starter homes, saying costly McMansion-style subdivisions are all that’s being built now.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for would-be
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
Plenty of would-be heroes pass through the inn on their way to save the world, and Nell is responsible for keeping the place running, serving food, and making sure all those annoying questers don’t cause too much chaos.
—Caroline Carlson, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
The same goes for Brooks, who had a league-leading 183 tackles last season and regularly takes on ball carriers and would-be blockers with equal violence.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
For years, would-be first-time homebuyers have complained about the skimpy inventory of starter homes, saying costly McMansion-style subdivisions are all that’s being built now.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 30 Mar. 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 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
