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would

[wood, wuhd]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

auxiliary verb

a simple past tense and past participle of will.
(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

[wohld]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

weld.

would

/ wʊd, wəd /

verb

used as an auxiliary to form the past tense or subjunctive mood of will 1
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

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Confusables Note

See should.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of would¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English would, wald(e), wold(e), wuld(e), Old English wolde, walde; will ¹

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

would like, (used to express desire).
I would like to go next year.
would rather. rather.

In addition to the idioms beginning with would, also see as luck would have it; fly on the wall, would like to be a. Also see under wouldn't.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

“I didn’t think I would be met with any sort of no, especially because we’re in LA and with everything happening,” she said.

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Now the nonprofit is approaching vendors in Koreatown and asking, “�� would it take to get you off the street?”

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The film’s marketing, which insists this is from “the hearts and souls of Mike Flanagan and Stephen King,” would certainly like you to think so.

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A spokesman for the water company said the robot would be a "game-changer" and would help cut down the number of emergency repairs.

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The Department for Transport said last month it had "a zero-tolerance attitude towards fraud, bribery, and corruption" and would ensure any claims of wrongdoing were thoroughly investigated.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Wouk would-be

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