could've

contraction

ˈku̇-dəv 

: could have

I could've sneezed and exposed a hundred agents, managers, and studio execs to my post-New Year's cold …

—Kate Nielsen

One of the couple's proudest moments yet came as a special delivery on their anniversary last Wednesday—a letter from the Queen. Evelyn [MacDiarmid] said: "I was so happy I could've cried."

—Jenny Kirkham

… I could've sworn my bike was parked out front. I ran out to the back of the shop thinking maybe I put it back there—no bike.

—Nigel Wynn

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above