51Թ

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View synonyms for

would-be

[ wood-bee ]

adjective

  1. wishing or pretending to be:

    a would-be wit.

  2. intended to be:

    a would-be kindness.



noun

  1. a person who wishes or pretends to be something:

    Opera singers and would-bes should practice at least four hours a day.

would-be

adjective

  1. derogatory.
    wanting or professing to be

    a would-be politician

  2. intended to be

    would-be generosity

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. derogatory.
    a person who wants or professes to be something that he is not
  2. the person to whom one is is engaged to be married; fiancé or fiancée
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of would-be1

1250–1300; Middle English (adj.)
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He acknowledges that it's not for everyone, and that some people prefer to be away with friends and family, but he wants to encourage would-be travellers to "throw yourself in".

From

Southern California home prices barely rose last month, as would-be buyers weren’t able — or willing — to bid up housing costs much further.

From

The construction labor force has already been shrinking for various reasons, he said, and now “many of these would-be workers are scared by these high-profile deportations.”

From

Business Finland's marketing campaigns for would-be movers highlight social and lifestyle factors too: Finns tend to prioritise wellbeing, plus there's free education and subsidised healthcare and childcare.

From

But anti-riot police had been deployed overnight in case of trouble and they fired tear gas to disperse the would-be audience.

From

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