would-be

American  

[wood-bee] / ˈwʊdˌbi /

adjective

1. wishing or pretending to be.

   a would-be wit.

2. intended to be.

   a would-be kindness.

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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 British  

adjective

1. derogatory wanting or professing to be

   a would-be politician

2. intended to be

   would-be generosity

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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

Etymology

Origin of would-be

1250–1300; Middle English (adj.)

Example Sentences

Sydney had been raised by an eccentric Edwardian publisher and would-be Conservative political thinker, Thomas Bowles.

From The Wall Street Journal

Two days before Sarah North was about to move into her London Bridge flat, her would-be landlord told her his father had died and she would now have to find somewhere else to live.

From BBC

You reach the would-be mirage, but there’s not even a puddle.

From Literature

Vehicles like the R1S SUV and R1T pickup are on display, and employees are on hand to answer questions, even help would-be owners with the registration process.

From The Wall Street Journal

Their first meeting in a coffee shop drew five people — the number Indivisible suggests a would-be organizer initially aim to marshal.

From Salon

Related Words

• budding
• enterprising
• potential
• prospective