wannabe
Americannoun
plural
wannabesnoun
Etymology
Origin of wannabe
First recorded in 1980–85; derivative of (I) wanna be…
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 new generation of modern travel agencies is making it easy for wannabe advisers to set up shop.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
Madeira, the real one, was probably unaware at the time his mischief would create a cult figure whose legacy lives on among early-noughties wannabe managers.
From BBC • May 5, 2026
A wannabe cavalry unit, anchored in the center by an agent on a white horse, swept through a soccer field where children were attending day camp just minutes before.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026
Ruth, a fashion designer who quits the high-pressure world to become a teacher, acts as a contrast to the hustle culture-inspired ambitions of wannabe billionaire Becket, Henwick says.
From BBC • Mar. 11, 2026
But now, standing before the General, Thorn looked like a silly wannabe soldier.
From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan
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.
