would

¹

[wood, wuhd]

auxiliary verb

1. a simple past tense and past participle of will.

2. (used to express the future in past sentences).

   He said he would go tomorrow.

3. (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?

4. (used to express repeated or habitual action in the past).

   We would visit Grandma every morning up at the farm.

5. (used to express an intention or inclination).

   Nutritionists would have us all eat whole grains.

6. (used to express an uncertainty).

   It would appear that he is guilty.

7. (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.

8. would have, (used with a past participle to express unfulfilled intention or preference).

   I would have saved you some but Jimmy took it all.

verb (used with object)

1. (used to express a wish).

   Would he were here!

would

²

[wohld]

noun

1. weld.

would

/ wʊd, wəd /

verb

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

2. used as an auxiliary to indicate willingness or desire in a polite manner

   would you help me, please?

3. used as an auxiliary to describe a past action as being accustomed or habitual

   every day we would go for walks

4. I wish

   would that he were here

Confusables Note

See should.

Word History and Origins

Origin of would¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English would, wald(e), wold(e), wuld(e), Old English wolde, walde; will ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. would like, (used to express desire).

   I would like to go next year.

2. would rather. rather.

More idioms and phrases containing would

• as luck would have it
• fly on the wall, would like to be a
• wouldn't

Example Sentences

Among transactions of more than $2 billion, the deal would be the largest bond issuance as a proportion of public market cap in 2025, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

Read more on Barron's

Apart from Waller, who already serves on the Board, any new pick would likely be appointed first to fill the governor-seat opening that will be available in January when Governor Stephen Miran’s term ends.

Read more on Barron's

All the Fed would need to do is create various futures contracts on these types of data and then encourage investors to wager on them.

Read more on Barron's

But the IMF’s economics team says it would be “premature and incorrect” to conclude that tariffs didn’t hurt global growth much.

Read more on Barron's

Investors are growing more worried about how a prolonged closure would affect economic growth.

Read more on Barron's