would-be
Americanadjective
-
wishing or pretending to be.
a would-be wit.
-
intended to be.
a would-be kindness.
noun
adjective
-
derogatory wanting or professing to be
a would-be politician
-
intended to be
would-be generosity
noun
-
derogatory a person who wants or professes to be something that he is not
-
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But there are always anomalies in even would-be wave years, and voters might think the Senate candidate is his brother is the stuff from which anomalies are made.
From Slate ● Sep. 19, 2026
The writer described the singularly Los Angeles role of such people, working in this “spread-out, skyscraperless city where perpetual rush hours thwart would-be roving reporters.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
The combination of high home prices and elevated interest rates has put would-be home buyers in a bind.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 16, 2026
Now, would-be disrupter Light Helmets is writing a playbook that could upend the marketing of this rapidly evolving product.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026
The two would-be boxers looked over at her.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
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.
