Synonyms

could

American

[kood, kuhd] / kʊd, kəd /

auxiliary verb

a simple past tense of can.
(used to express possibility).

I wonder who that could be at the door. That couldn't be true.
(used to express conditional possibility or ability).

You could do it if you tried.
(used in making polite requests).

Could you open the door for me, please?
(used in asking for permission).

Could I borrow your pen?
(used in offering suggestions or advice).

You could write and ask for more information. You could at least have called me.

could British

/ kʊd /

verb

used as an auxiliary to make the past tense of can 1
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
used as an auxiliary to indicate suggestion of a course of action

you could take the car tomorrow if it's raining
(often foll by well) used as an auxiliary to indicate a possibility

he could well be a spy

"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

could Idioms

see can (could) do with; see with half an eye, could. Also see under can; couldn't.

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.

A reboot of talks could be on the horizon though, with The Wall Street Journal reporting that “regional countries” are working to bring the U.S. and Iran back together to reach a deal.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

This puzzle could have an encouraging explanation: Productivity, which means workers are producing goods and services more efficiently, has revived at just the right time.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

These results could reshape how scientists think about aging and longevity.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

You could say instead that lying is deliberately asserting what one knows to be false.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

She doubted it, but it was the only hope she could muster.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023