wannabe
noun
one who aspires, often vainly, to emulate another's success or attain eminence in some area.
wannabes
-
pluralof wannabe.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
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.
At gone 22:00 BST on Monday night, there was still a minibus full of ministerial wannabes inside Downing Street waiting for their new positions to be confirmed.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
He now leads New York, “and there are wannabes all over the country,” she says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026
Yet, these supposedly most-promising stars are mostly hapless wannabes leaning on their skills in nunchucks and mime.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2026
Others, like the Elvis impersonators roaming the streets, were wannabes, eager to tap into the mass tort gold mine.
From Slate ● Jan. 13, 2026
Closer in, leaning against the fence with stoic faces was a mix of local coaches, involved fathers, skuzzy agent wannabes, scouts from prep schools and even colleges.
From "Shelter (Book One): A Mickey Bolitar Novel" by Harlan Coben
