would

[ woo d; unstressed wuh d ]

/ wʊd; unstressed wəd /

verb

a simple past tense and past participle of will¹.

(used to express the future in past sentences): He said he would go tomorrow.

(used in place of will, to make a statement or form a question less direct or blunt): That would scarcely be fair. Would you be so kind?

(used to express repeated or habitual action in the past): We would visit Grandma every morning up at the farm.

(used to express an intention or inclination): Nutritionists would have us all eat whole grains.

(used to express a wish): Would he were here!

(used to express an uncertainty): It would appear that he is guilty.

(used in conditional sentences to express choice or possibility): They would come if they had the fare. If the temperature were higher, the water would evaporate.

would have, (used with a past participle to express unfulfilled intention or preference): I would have saved you some but Jimmy took it all.

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?

Question 1 of 10

decorum

the act of or need for making up one's mind.

dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.

a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms for would

would like, (used to express desire): I would like to go next year.

would rather. rather(def 9).

Origin of would

before 900; Middle English, Old English wolde. See will¹

usage note for would

See should.

Words nearby would

wot, wotan, wotcher, wotton, wouk, would, would rather, would that, would-be, wouldn't, wouldn't dream of

Definition for would (2 of 4)

would²

[ wohld ]

/ woʊld /

noun

weld².

Definition for would (3 of 4)

will¹

[ wil ]

/ wɪl /

auxiliary verb, present singular 1st person will, 2nd will or (Archaic) wilt, 3rd will, present plural will; past singular 1st person would, 2nd would or (Archaic) wouldst, 3rd would, past plural would; past participle (Obsolete) wold or would; imperative, infinitive, and present participle lacking.

am (is, are, etc.) about or going to: I will be there tomorrow. She will see you at dinner.

am (is, are, etc.) disposed or willing to: People will do right.

am (is, are, etc.) expected or required to: You will report to the principal at once.

may be expected or supposed to: You will not have forgotten him. This will be right.

am (is, are, etc.) determined or sure to (used emphatically): You would do it. People will talk.

am (is, are, etc.) accustomed to, or do usually or often: You will often see her sitting there. He would write for hours at a time.

am (is, are, etc.) habitually disposed or inclined to: Boys will be boys. After dinner they would read aloud.

am (is, are, etc.) capable of; can: This tree will live without water for three months.

am (is, are, etc.) going to: I will bid you “Good night.”

verb (used with or without object), present singular 1st person will, 2nd will or (Archaic) wilt, 3rd will, present plural will; past singular 1st person would, 2nd would or (Archaic) wouldst, 3rd would, past plural would; past participle (Obsolete) wold or would; imperative, infinitive, and present participle lacking.

to wish; desire; like: Go where you will. Ask, if you will, who the owner is.

Origin of will

before 900; Middle English willen, Old English wyllan; cognate with Dutch willen, German wollen, Old Norse vilja, Gothic wiljan; akin to Latin velle to wish

usage note for will

See shall.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH will

can may shall will (see usage note at can¹) (see usage note at shall)

Definition for would (4 of 4)

will²

[ wil ]

/ wɪl /

noun

the faculty of conscious and especially of deliberate action; the power of control the mind has over its own actions: the freedom of the will.

power of choosing one's own actions: to have a strong or a weak will.

the act or process of using or asserting one's choice; volition: My hands are obedient to my will.

wish or desire: to submit against one's will.

purpose or determination, often hearty or stubborn determination; willfulness: to have the will to succeed.

the wish or purpose as carried out, or to be carried out: to work one's will.

disposition, whether good or ill, toward another.

Law.

a legal declaration of a person's wishes as to the disposition of his or her property or estate after death, usually written and signed by the testator and attested by witnesses.
the document containing such a declaration.

verb (used with object), willed, will·ing.

to decide, bring about, or attempt to effect or bring about by an act of the will: He can walk if he wills it.

to purpose, determine on, or elect, by an act of will: If he wills success, he can find it.

to give or dispose of (property) by a will or testament; bequeath or devise.

to influence by exerting control over someone's impulses and actions: She was willed to walk the tightrope by the hypnotist.

verb (used without object), willed, will·ing.

to exercise the will: To will is not enough, one must do.

to decide or determine: Others debate, but the king wills.

Origin of will

before 900; (noun) Middle English will(e), Old English will(a); cognate with Dutch wil, German Wille, Old Norse vili, Gothic wilja; (v.) Middle English willen, Old English willian to wish, desire, derivative of the noun; akin to will¹

SYNONYMS FOR will

3 choice.

4 pleasure, disposition, inclination.

5 resolution, decision. Will, volition refer to conscious choice as to action or thought. Will denotes fixed and persistent intent or purpose: Where there's a will there's a way. Volition is the power of forming an intention or the incentive for using the will: to exercise one's volition in making a decision.

9 determine.

11 leave.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR will ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM will

will·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for would

But on Thursday Boxer triggered a Golden State political earthquake, announcing that she would not seek a fifth term in 2016.
The Golden State Preps for the ‘Red Wedding’ of Senate Races|David Freedlander|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It would became one of the first great mysteries in the United States of America, as it was only then 23 years old.
New York’s Most Tragic Ghost Loves Minimalist Swedish Fashion|Nina Strochlic|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Almost all of the network and cable news channels said that they would not be showing the cartoons either.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Why would “they” want to crush him just for attempting to buy something twenty years ago?
Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers|Stereo Williams|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Have there been discussions with FX regarding an Archer movie, and how do you think that would play out?
‘Archer’ Creator Adam Reed Spills Season 6 Secrets, From Surreal Plotlines to Life Post-ISIS|Marlow Stern|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The door below it was also open, and with the idea that I would surely find some one there, I walked on up the hall.
In the Fog|Richard Harding Davis
Had Mike not been so assisted he would have been evicted, and there would have been no appeal from it.
Nasby in Exile|David R. Locke
They would even come out and seat themselves on the point of a steep rock by the wayside.
The Chinese Fairy Book|Various
We told the Moros that they would all have to work if the Americans should come.
The Great White Tribe in Filipinia|Paul T. Gilbert
And he asked who would volunteer to follow two leaders in separate lines.
The Later Cave-Men|Katharine Elizabeth Dopp

British Dictionary definitions for would (1 of 3)

would

/ (wʊd, unstressed wəd) /

verb (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive)

used as an auxiliary to form the past tense or subjunctive mood of will 1

(with you, he, she, it, they, or a noun as subject) used as an auxiliary to indicate willingness or desire in a polite mannerwould you help me, please?

used as an auxiliary to describe a past action as being accustomed or habitualevery day we would go for walks

I wishwould that he were here

undefined would

See should

British Dictionary definitions for would (2 of 3)

will¹

/ (wɪl) /

verb past would (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive)

(esp with you, he, she, it, they, or a noun as subject) used as an auxiliary to make the future tenseCompare shall (def. 1)

used as an auxiliary to express resolution on the part of the speakerI will buy that radio if it's the last thing I do

used as an auxiliary to indicate willingness or desirewill you help me with this problem?

used as an auxiliary to express compulsion, as in commandsyou will report your findings to me tomorrow

used as an auxiliary to express capacity or abilitythis rope will support a load

used as an auxiliary to express probability or expectation on the part of the speakerthat will be Jim telephoning

used as an auxiliary to express customary practice or inevitabilityboys will be boys

(with the infinitive always implied) used as an auxiliary to express desire: usually in polite requestsstay if you will

what you will whatever you like

will do informal a declaration of willingness to do what is requested

Word Origin for will

Old English willan; related to Old Saxon willian, Old Norse vilja, Old High German wollen, Latin velle to wish, will

undefined will

See shall

British Dictionary definitions for would (3 of 3)

will²

/ (wɪl) /

noun

the faculty of conscious and deliberate choice of action; volitionRelated adjectives: voluntary, volitive

the act or an instance of asserting a choice

the declaration of a person's wishes regarding the disposal of his or her property after deathRelated adjective: testamentary
a revocable instrument by which such wishes are expressed

anything decided upon or chosen, esp by a person in authority; desire; wish

determined intentionwhere there's a will there's a way

disposition or attitude towards othershe bears you no ill will

at will at one's own desire, inclination, or choice

with a will heartily; energetically

with the best will in the world even with the best of intentions

verb (mainly tr; often takes a clause as object or an infinitive)

(also intr) to exercise the faculty of volition in an attempt to accomplish (something)he willed his wife's recovery from her illness

to give (property) by will to a person, society, etche willed his art collection to the nation

(also intr) to order or decreethe king wills that you shall die

to choose or preferwander where you will

to yearn for or desireto will that one's friends be happy

Derived forms of will

willer, noun

Word Origin for will

Old English willa; related to Old Norse vili, Old High German willeo (German Wille), Gothic wilja, Old Slavonic volja

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

Idioms and Phrases with would (1 of 2)

would

In addition to the idioms beginning with would

would rather
would that

also see:

as luck would have it
fly on the wall, would like to be a

Also see underwouldn't.

Idioms and Phrases with would (2 of 2)

will

In addition to the idiom beginning with will

will not hear of

also see:

against one's will
at will
boys will be boys
heads (will) roll
murder will out
of one's own accord (free will)
shit will hit the fan
that will do
time will tell
truth will out
when the cat's away, mice will play
where there's a will
with a will
with the best will in the world
wonders will never cease

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would

verb

QUIZZES

DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

Idioms for would

Origin of would

usage note for would

Words nearby would

Definition for would (2 of 4)

noun

Definition for would (3 of 4)

Origin of will

usage note for will

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH will

Definition for would (4 of 4)

noun

verb (used with object), willed, will·ing.

verb (used without object), willed, will·ing.

Origin of will

SYNONYMS FOR will

OTHER WORDS FROM will

Words related to would

Example sentences from the Web for would

British Dictionary definitions for would (1 of 3)

verb (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive)

undefined would

British Dictionary definitions for would (2 of 3)

verb past would (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive)

Word Origin for will

undefined will

British Dictionary definitions for would (3 of 3)

noun

verb (mainly tr; often takes a clause as object or an infinitive)

Derived forms of will

Word Origin for will

Idioms and Phrases with would (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with would (2 of 2)