would-be

English

Adjective

would-be (not comparable)

1. Attempting or desiring something.

   Would-be marines have to get through a rigorous examination.

   • 2019 May 9, Edward Helmore, “Anna Sorokin: fake German heiress sentenced to up to 12 years in prison”, in The Guardian‎^[1]:

     Sorokin, a would-be art collector, planned to open a members-only arts club but became known as the “Soho grifter” after her deception upon New York’s glitzy social scene came to light.

2. Unfulfilled or frustrated in realizing an ambition.

   Would-be film stars often become waitresses.

Coordinate terms

• wannabe
• might-be

Translations

attempting or desiring something

• Basque: sasi-
• French: pseudo- (fr), en puissance (fr)
• German: möchtegern, pseudo- (de)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Hungarian: leendő (hu), jövendőbeli (hu)
• Polish: aspirujący
• Russian: мечтающий (ru) (mečtajuščij), претендующий (ru) (pretendujuščij)

unfulfilled or frustrated in realizing an ambition

• French: soi-disant (fr)
• Polish: niedoszły (pl)
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Russian: несостоявшийся (ru) (nesostojavšijsja)

Noun

would-be (plural would-bes)

1. One who aspires to something.

   Synonym: wannabe

   • (Can we date this quote?), Elbert Hubbard, Hollyhocks and Goldenglow

     The would-bes are very sure that the managers have it in for them; just as most young writers regard publishers as being in conspiracy against budding genius.