Showing results for "would"

• past tense form of will.
• past participle of will.

would

¹ American  

[wood, wuhd] / wʊd, wəd /

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.

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verb (used with object)

1. (used to express a wish).

   Would he were here!

idioms

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

   I would like to go next year.

2. would rather. rather.

would ² American  

[wohld] / woʊld /

noun

1. weld.

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would British  

/ 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

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would More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing would

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

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Commonly Confused

See should.

Etymology

Origin of would

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

would

Between 2018 and 2022, a client in Southern California who owned commercial and residential real estate applied for several mortgages stating that they would live in the properties.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

Sir Ed said on X that he would attend the meeting by Zoom as he was with his family in France and had a disabled son who needed "24/7 care".

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

A vote or two against a hold would highlight how pressure to move is building inside the committee.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

The prime minister said he would put "whatever political capital" he had "into fixing broken social care" but did not put a timeline on changes.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

I would normally be in a rehearsal room playing, but Rue is missing Black Alliance so she can take me out to eat for my birthday.

From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold