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would
1[ wood; unstressed wuhd ]
auxiliary verb
- a simple past tense and past participle of will 1.
- (used to express the future in past sentences):
He said he would go tomorrow.
- (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?
- (used to express repeated or habitual action in the past):
We would visit Grandma every morning up at the farm.
- (used to express an intention or inclination):
Nutritionists would have us all eat whole grains.
- (used to express an uncertainty):
It would appear that he is guilty.
- (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.
- 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)
- (used to express a wish):
Would he were here!
would
2[ wohld ]
noun
would
/ wʊd; wəd /
verb
- used as an auxiliary to form the past tense or subjunctive mood of will 1
- withyou, he, she, it, they, or a noun as subject used as an auxiliary to indicate willingness or desire in a polite manner
would you help me, please?
- used as an auxiliary to describe a past action as being accustomed or habitual
every day we would go for walks
- I wish
would that he were here
Usage
Confusables Note
51Թ History and Origins
Idioms and Phrases
- would like, (used to express desire):
I would like to go next year.
- would rather. rather ( def 9 ).
More idioms and phrases containing would
- as luck would have it
- fly on the wall, would like to be a
- wouldn't
Example Sentences
He added that the union would put the offer to its members in a consultative ballot "as soon as that can be arranged".
The Post Office confirmed last November that the future of the these sites would be under review as part of a five-year plan to overhaul the business.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves told MPs such a campaign would be "inward looking" and was "not the way forward", in response to Liberal Democrat calls to encourage the public to buy more British goods and produce.
If we looked at another country and we saw the combination of steps that are taking place in our states, what would we say?
Mr Rowe also argued that if the court had been told some relevant information, it would have been justified in not granting the order.
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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.
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