would-be

[ wood-bee ]

adjective

1. wishing or pretending to be:

   a would-be wit.

2. intended to be:

   a would-be kindness.

noun

1. a person who wishes or pretends to be something:

   Opera singers and would-bes should practice at least four hours a day.

would-be

adjective

1. derogatory.
   wanting or professing to be

   a would-be politician

2. intended to be

   would-be generosity

noun

1. derogatory.
   a person who wants or professes to be something that he is not
2. the person to whom one is is engaged to be married; fiancé or fiancée

Word History and Origins

Origin of would-be¹

1250–1300; Middle English (adj.)

Example Sentences

But the current pontiff, for reasons one might fully understand, declined to meet the would-be papal assassin.

From The Daily Beast

The would-be pope killer loves to be in front of the cameras, and the press in Italy is happy to oblige.

From The Daily Beast

Siding with Obama on anything, no matter how sensical, is a risky move for a would-be Republican presidential candidate.

From The Daily Beast

First, there are plenty of would-be gurus out there, especially in India.

From The Daily Beast

This Tuesday, a bunch of vampires and would-be superheroes will knock on our doors and ask us to reward them.

From The Daily Beast

Everything showed a rapid flight; even the would-be dinner of the guerrillas was found half cooked.

From Project Gutenberg

While a one-step was in full swing some would-be wag suddenly turned off all the lights.

From Project Gutenberg

He is a stranger to affectation—that dangerous rock to the would-be wit; he is natural, and is witty without trying to be a wit.

From Project Gutenberg

He flattered himself that by timely suggestion he had stumped at least half a dozen would-be candidates for Mildreds hand.

From Project Gutenberg

"This is the blankest, rummiest blank go ever I was in," muttered the would-be iconoclast.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• budding
• enterprising
• potential
• prospective