Definitions for COULD
kʊd; unstressed kədCOULD

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. couldverb

   simple past tense of can

   Before I was blind, I could see very well.

   Etymology: From Middle English coude, couthe, cuthe, from Old English cūþe, past indicative and past subjunctive form of cunnan ("to be able") (compare related cūþ, whence English couth). The silent 'l' was added in the early 16th century by analogy with should and would, at which time the 'l' in those words was already also silent (and was sometimes not written, leading to shudd, wode, etc).[1]

2. couldverb

   conditional of can Used as a past subjunctive. Used to politely ask for permission to do something. Used to politely ask for someone else to do something. Used to show the possibility that something might happen. Used to suggest something.

   I think he could do it if he really wanted to.

   Etymology: From Middle English coude, couthe, cuthe, from Old English cūþe, past indicative and past subjunctive form of cunnan ("to be able") (compare related cūþ, whence English couth). The silent 'l' was added in the early 16th century by analogy with should and would, at which time the 'l' in those words was already also silent (and was sometimes not written, leading to shudd, wode, etc).[1]

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Could

   of Can

   Etymology: [OF. coude. The l was inserted by mistake, under the influence of should and would.]

2. Could

   was, should be, or would be, able, capable, or susceptible. Used as an auxiliary, in the past tense or in the conditional present

   Etymology: [OF. coude. The l was inserted by mistake, under the influence of should and would.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Could

   kood, pa.t. of Can. [M. E. coude, couth—A.S. cúðe for cunðe, was able; l is inserted from the influence of would and should.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'COULD' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #62

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'COULD' in Written Corpus Frequency: #88

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'COULD' in Verbs Frequency: #14

Anagrams for COULD »

1. cloud

How to pronounce COULD?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say COULD in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of COULD in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of COULD in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

Examples of COULD in a Sentence

1. Duke Storen:

   While I wish we could have put the benefit in the hands of families sooner -- they needed them a month ago, but they also need these benefits today.

2. Lory Manning:

   The number of reports could be due to more confidence that justice will be done, however it could also mean that more assaults are occurring — or both. The increase in reporting should not be spun as good news while sexual assaults continue unabated.

3. Joachim Saur:

   I was always brainstorming how we could use a telescope in other ways, is there a way you could use a telescope to look inside a planetary body? Then I thought, the aurorae! Because aurorae are controlled by the magnetic field, if you observe the aurorae in an appropriate way, you learn something about the magnetic field. If you know the magnetic field, then you know something about the moon's interior.

4. Jorn Teske:

   As long as we have no financial support from the government side, or from whomever else, we couldn't manage the normal fee. The risk is by far too high, we found a solution for 2019, quite surprisingly, but this was a special situation. If we could find another solution for a mid-term agreement we would like to have it but at the moment we are concentrating on this season. This is challenging enough.

5. Michael Cristofano:

   I first found it surprising and laughable. Then you start to think what could have happened. Someone could have been in the car.

Images & Illustrations of COULD

Popularity rank by frequency of use