would-be

(wo͝od′bē′)

adj.

Desiring, attempting, or professing to be: "Would-be home buyers will have a somewhat easier time getting loans" (Wall Street Journal).

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

would-be

adj (prenominal)

1. usually derogatory wanting or professing to be: a would-be politician.

2. intended to be: would-be generosity.

3. derogatory a person who wants or professes to be something that he is not

4. Indian the person to whom one is engaged to be married; fiancé or fiancée

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

would′-be`

adj.

1. wishing or pretending to be: a would-be wit.

2. intended to be: a would-be kindness.

[1250–1300]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Adj.

would-be - unfulfilled or frustrated in realizing an ambition

manque

ambitious - having a strong desire for success or achievement

would-be

adjective budding, potential, so-called, professed, dormant, self-styled, latent, wannabe (informal), unfulfilled, undeveloped, self-appointed, unrealized, manqué, soi-disant (French), quasi- a book that provides encouragement for would-be writers

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

would-be

[ˈwʊdbiː] ADJ a would-be poet/politician → un aspirante a poeta/político

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

would-be

adj attr would-be poet/politician → jemand, der gerne (ein) Dichter/(ein) Politiker würde; (pej) → Möchtegerndichter(in) m(f) → /-politiker(in) m(f)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

would-be

[ˈwʊdˌbiː] adj a would-be poet/politician → un aspirante poeta/politico

would

(wud) – short forms I'd (aid) you'd (juːd) , he'd (hiːd) , she'd (ʃiːd) , it'd (ˈitəd) , we'd (wiːd) , they'd (ðeid) : negative short form wouldn't (ˈwudnt) – verb

1. past tense of will. He said he would be leaving at nine o'clock the next morning; I asked if he'd come and mend my television set; I asked him to do it, but he wouldn't; I thought you would have finished by now.

2. used in speaking of something that will, may or might happen (eg if a certain condition is met). If I asked her to the party, would she come?; I would have come to the party if you'd asked me; I'd be happy to help you.

3. used to express a preference, opinion etc politely. I would do it this way; It'd be a shame to lose the opportunity; I'd prefer to go tomorrow rather than today.

4. used, said with emphasis, to express annoyance. I've lost my car-keys – that would happen!

ˈwould-be adjective

trying, hoping, or merely pretending, to be. a would-be poet.

would you

used to introduce a polite request to someone to do something. (Please) would you close the door?