wannabe

American  

[won-uh-bee, waw-nuh‑] / ˈwɒn əˌbi, ˈwɔ nə‑ /

Sometimes wannabee

noun

Informal.

plural

wannabes

1. one who aspires, often vainly, to emulate another's success or attain eminence in some area.

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wannabe British  

/ ˈwɒnəˌbiː /

noun

1. informal

   1. a person who desires to be, or be like, someone or something else

      a group of Marilyn Monroe wannabes

   2. ( as modifier )

      a wannabe film star

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Etymology

Origin of wannabe

First recorded in 1980–85; derivative of (I) wanna be…

Example Sentences

In Hollywood, there’s an old joke among wannabe actors scraping by doing odd jobs between auditions: “Well, right now I’m parking cars, but what I really want to do is direct!”

From Salon

"Never in your life label me a thug again. Never label me a wannabe gangster," he said.

From BBC

Anxious market reactions to otherwise solid earnings reports, the appearance of wannabe retail products—both are signs.

From Barron's

Then again, it would have been set up a lot better than merely as a horror wannabe’s tour of his favorite tropes.

From Los Angeles Times

Most wannabe activists have been chewed up and spit out by the rising market, which has imposed losses on many short sellers.

From Barron's

Related Words

• budding
• enterprising
• potential
• prospective