: 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
Replacements were found for 23 families who were selected but could not be reached or declined, some over the would-be loss of other benefits.
—Dillon Mullan, Baltimore Sun, 27 June 2024
Rather than expounding on his plans for another four years in office, Biden's biggest challenge is justifying what's currently happening on the ground in Gaza to would-be Democratic voters who are outraged about his administration's ongoing support for Israel.
—Abc News, ABC News, 27 June 2024
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett is continuing to be coy about the identity of the ownership group for the city's would-be Major League Soccer franchise but said the group's local contingent will likely be revealed imminently.
—Hayleigh Colombo, The Indianapolis Star, 26 June 2024
As Lane hears from others and experiences for herself, many friends and relatives regard the would-be donor as crazy.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for would-be 
Dillon Mullan, Baltimore Sun, 27 June 2024
Rather than expounding on his plans for another four years in office, Biden's biggest challenge is justifying what's currently happening on the ground in Gaza to would-be Democratic voters who are outraged about his administration's ongoing support for Israel.
—Abc News, ABC News, 27 June 2024
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett is continuing to be coy about the identity of the ownership group for the city's would-be Major League Soccer franchise but said the group's local contingent will likely be revealed imminently.
—Hayleigh Colombo, The Indianapolis Star, 26 June 2024
As Lane hears from others and experiences for herself, many friends and relatives regard the would-be donor as crazy.
—Alissa Simon, Variety, 26 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for would-be
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'would-be.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Would-be.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/would-be. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
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