would-be

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Two days before Sarah North was about to move into her London Bridge flat, her would-be landlord told her his father had died and she would now have to find somewhere else to live.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Their first meeting in a coffee shop drew five people — the number Indivisible suggests a would-be organizer initially aim to marshal.

From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026

The increase in rental listings from would-be sellers can also soften the rental market with the new supply.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 22, 2026

War in Iran may be spooking some would-be buyers, according to a new Redfin survey.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 12, 2026

What use can would-be farmers make of a ton of wheat grains on the stalk, if they have not first figured out how to harvest, husk, and store them?

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond