Would-be

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Would-be \Would"-be`\, a.
     Desiring or professing to be; vainly pretending to be; as, a
     would-be poet.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:



  would-be
       adj 1: seeking advancement or recognition [syn: {aspirant}, {aspiring(p)},
               {wishful}, {would-be(a)}]
       2: unfilled or frustrated in realizing an ambition [syn: {manque},
           {would-be(a)}]