would
1a simple past tense and past participle of will1.
(used to express the future in past sentences): He said he would go tomorrow.
(used in place of will, to make a statement or form a question less direct or blunt): That would scarcely be fair. Would you be so kind?
(used to express repeated or habitual action in the past): We would visit Grandma every morning up at the farm.
(used to express an intention or inclination): Nutritionists would have us all eat whole grains.
(used to express an uncertainty): It would appear that he is guilty.
(used in conditional sentences to express choice or possibility): They would come if they had the fare. If the temperature were higher, the water would evaporate.
would have, (used with a past participle to express unfulfilled intention or preference): I would have saved you some but Jimmy took it all.
(used to express a wish): Would he were here!
Idioms about would
would like, (used to express desire):I would like to go next year.
would rather. rather (def. 9).
Origin of would
1confusables note For would
Words that may be confused with would
Words Nearby would
Other definitions for would (2 of 2)
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use would in a sentence
But on Thursday Boxer triggered a Golden State political earthquake, announcing that she would not seek a fifth term in 2016.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races | David Freedlander | January 9, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTTo those who agreed with him, Bush pledged that the law against same-sex marriage would remain intact.
It would became one of the first great mysteries in the United States of America, as it was only then 23 years old.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion | Nina Strochlic | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTWithout it, they say, the disease would surely kill her within two years.
Almost all of the network and cable news channels said that they would not be showing the cartoons either.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead | Luke O’Neil | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
"Capital, capital," his lordship would remark with great alacrity, when there was no other way of escape.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsBessires was included because he would never win it at any later date, but his doglike devotion made him a priceless subordinate.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonYou would not think it too much to set the whole province in flames so that you could have your way with this wretched child.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael SabatiniHe was voluble in his declarations that they would “put the screws” to Ollie on the charge of perjury.
The Bondboy | George W. (George Washington) OgdenAnd she would be wearing some of the jewels with the white dress—just a few, not many, of course.
Rosemary in Search of a Father | C. N. Williamson
British Dictionary definitions for would
/ (wʊd, unstressed wəd) /
used as an auxiliary to form the past tense or subjunctive mood of will 1
(with you, he, she, it, they, or a noun as subject) used as an auxiliary to indicate willingness or desire in a polite manner: would you help me, please?
used as an auxiliary to describe a past action as being accustomed or habitual: every day we would go for walks
I wish: would that he were here
would
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with would
In addition to the idioms beginning with would
- would rather
- would that
also see:
- as luck would have it
- fly on the wall, would like to be a
Also see underwouldn't.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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