could
Americanauxiliary verb
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a simple past tense of can.
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(used to express possibility).
I wonder who that could be at the door. That couldn't be true.
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(used to express conditional possibility or ability).
You could do it if you tried.
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(used in making polite requests).
Could you open the door for me, please?
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(used in asking for permission).
Could I borrow your pen?
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(used in offering suggestions or advice).
You could write and ask for more information. You could at least have called me.
verb
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used as an auxiliary to make the past tense of can 1
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used as an auxiliary, esp in polite requests or in conditional sentences, to make the subjunctive mood of can 1
could I see you tonight?
she'd telephone if she could
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used as an auxiliary to indicate suggestion of a course of action
you could take the car tomorrow if it's raining
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(often foll by well) used as an auxiliary to indicate a possibility
he could well be a spy
Usage
See care.
Etymology
Origin of could
First recorded in 1450–1500; alteration of late Middle English coude, coud, Old English cūthe; modern -l- from would 1, should
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In essence, the neighboring sale upped the ante as far as Behar’s listing was concerned—and also encouraged her agents to start thinking about other ways they could prove the home’s potential to prospective buyers.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026
Efforts to cut costs could only partly offset those drags on the bottom line, BMW said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
Treason is a capital offence in Uganda and if found guilty the veteran politician could be sentenced to death.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
"Last year we could swim across but now the water only comes up to our chests," said 71-year-old Doru, pointing to an island in the river.
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
He tells me that his reason for joining Black Alliance was that he wanted to be a part of a group he could relate to.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
