Advertisement
Advertisement
would
1[ wood; unstressed wuhd ]
auxiliary verb
- a simple past tense and past participle of will 1.
- (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
2[ wohld ]
noun
would
/ wʊd; wəd /
verb
- used as an auxiliary to form the past tense or subjunctive mood of will 1
- withyou, he, she, it, they, or a noun as subject 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
Usage
Confusables Note
Word History and Origins
Idioms and Phrases
- would like, (used to express desire):
I would like to go next year.
- would rather. rather ( def 9 ).
More idioms and phrases containing would
- as luck would have it
- fly on the wall, would like to be a
- wouldn't
Example Sentences
The college said it would aim to ensure applicants are evaluated based on their ability to "engage constructively with different perspectives, show empathy and participate in civil discourse".
Tarar said that India intends to use the attack as a "false pretext" for a strike and that "any such military adventurism by India would be responded to assuredly and decisively".
But Riley, the source said, felt USC would be better positioned for future success by moving on.
“I never would have imagined persons hired to be the safety net and care for the most vulnerable could or would abuse their position and power in this way,” said Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
Metaphorically speaking, of course, since many people think it would be impossible to do a worse job of opposing President Donald Trump.
Advertisement
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse