: desiring, intending, professing, or having the potential to be
tips for would-be mothers and fathers
The conference, held over the Labor Day weekend, drew 1200 to 1300 writers and would-be writers to the Hawaiian island this year …—
John F. Baker
John F. BakerPossibly the most hilarious and outrageous character was Joey Tribbiani, a would-be actor who struggles to find success in his chosen profession …—The Cheat Sheet
The Cheat SheetShe's a clueless, would-be do-gooder without much self-awareness.—Maureen Ryan
Maureen RyanExamples of would-be in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
What does McDonald's new Grandma's McFlurry taste like? Ahead of the release of Grandma's McFlurry, some would-be samplers wondered whether the treat might taste like butter pecan, butterscotch, strawberry or perhaps peppermint.
—Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 21 May 2024
Veteran civil rights attorney Richard Herman is even risking $100,000 of his own money to help post the would-be bond and is offering Martinez a job at his law firm if bail is granted.
—Tony Saavedra, Orange County Register, 19 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for would-be 
Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 21 May 2024
Veteran civil rights attorney Richard Herman is even risking $100,000 of his own money to help post the would-be bond and is offering Martinez a job at his law firm if bail is granted.
—Tony Saavedra, Orange County Register, 19 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for would-be
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'would-be.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Would-be.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/would-be. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
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