would-beadjective [ before noun ]
uk/ˈwʊd.bi/us/ˈwʊd.bi/C2 wanting or trying to be:
a would-be artist/politician
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Wanting things
- ache for sth
- acquisitive
- ambitious
- angle
- angle for sth
- aspirant
- burn
- fancy
- finger
- hang the cost/expense idiom
- hanker after/for sth
- have your eye on sth idiom
- hunger
- hunger after/for sth
- set your sights on sth idiom
- shook
- sight
- sth is calling you idiom
- straw
- tempt
See more results »