Definitions for would
wʊd; unstressed wədwould

Wiktionary(1.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. wouldverb

   As a past-tense form of will.

2. wouldverb

   As a modal verb.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Wouldthe preterite of will.

   1. It is generally used as an auxiliary verb with an infinitive, to which it gives the force of the subjunctive mood.

   If God’s providence did not so order it, cheats would daily be committed, which would justle private men out of their rights, and unhinge states. John Ray.

   2. I Would do it. My resolution is that it should be done by me. Thou Wou'ldest do it. Such must be the consequence to thee. He Would or it would. This must be the consequence to him or it.3. The plural as the singular.

   He by the rules of his own mind, could construe no other end of mens doings but self-seeking, suddenly feared what they could do, and as suddenly suspected what they would do, and as suddenly hated them, as having both might and mind so to do. Philip Sidney.

   4. Was or am resolved; wish or wished to.

   She would give her a lesson for walking so late, that should make her keep within doors for one fortnight. Philip Sidney.

   Jealous Philoclea, that was even jealous of herself; for Zelmane would needs have her glove. Philip Sidney.

   You would be satisfied? ——
   Would? nay, and will. William Shakespeare, Othello.

   They know not what they are, nor what they would be, any further than that they would not be what they are. Roger L'Estrange.

   It will be needless to enumerate all the simple ideas belonging to each sense: nor indeed is it possible if we would; there being a great many more of them belonging to most of the senses than we have names for. John Locke.

   By pleasure and pain I would be understood to signify, whatsoever delights or molests us, whether from the thoughts of our minds, or any thing operating on our bodies. John Locke.

   5. It is a familiar term for wish to do, or to have.

   What wouldst thou with us? William Shakespeare, King Lear.

   Mr. Slender, what would you with me? ——
   —— I Would little or nothing with you. William Shakespeare.

   6. Should wish.

   Celia! if you apprehend
   The muse of your incensed friend;
   Nor would that he record your blame,
   And make it live; repeat the same;
   Again deceive him, and again,
   And then he swears he’ll not complain. Edmund Waller.

   7. It is used in old authours for should.

   The excess of diet would be avoided. Francis Bacon.

   As for percolation, which belongeth to separation, trial would be made by clarifying by adhesion, with milk put into new beer and stirred with it. Francis Bacon, Natural History.

   8. It has the signification of I wish, or I pray; this, I believe, is improper; and formed by a gradual corruption of the phrase, would God; which originally imported, that God would, might God will, might God decree; from this phrase ill understood came, would to God; thence, I would to God: And thence I would, or elliptically, would come to signify, I wish: and so it is used even in good authours, but ought not to be imitated.

   I would my father look’d but with my eyes. William Shakespeare.

   I would this musick would come. William Shakespeare.

   I, this sound I better know:
   Wise men will do it without a law; I would there might be a law to restrain fools. Francis Bacon, Advice to Villiers.

   List! I would I could hear mo. Ben Jonson.

   This is yet the outward, fairest side
   Of our design: within rests more of fear
   Than my most worthy lords, I would there were. Daniel.

   Would thou hadst hearken’d to my words, and stay’d
   With me, as I besought thee, when that strange
   Desire of wand’ring, this unhappy morn,
   Possess’d thee. John Milton, Paradise Lost.

   Would God we might prevent the need of such unkindly expedients, and by a thankful sense of what we have, provide to conserve it. Decay of Piety.

   I scarce am pleas’d, I tamely mount the throne,
   Would Aurengzebe had all their souls in one. Dryden.

   And would to heav’n the storm you felt, would bring
   On Carthaginian coasts your wand’ring king. Dryden.

2. Weld or or Wouldnoun

   luteola, Latin. Yellow weed, or dyers weed.

   Its leaves are oblong and intire: it has an anomalous flower, consisting of many dissimilar leaves: the fruit is globular, hollow, and divided into three parts. The dyers use it for dying bright yellows and lemon colours; and this is by some supposed to be the plant used by the ancient Picts in painting their bodies. Philip Miller.

Webster Dictionary(4.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Would

   of Will

2. Wouldverb

   commonly used as an auxiliary verb, either in the past tense or in the conditional or optative present. See 2d & 3d Will

3. Wouldnoun

   see 2d Weld

4. Etymology: [OE. & AS. wolde. See Will, v. t.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(5.00 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Would

   wood, pa.t. of will.—adj. Would′-be, aspiring, trying, or merely professing to be.—n. a vain pretender. [A.S. wolde, pa.t. of willan.]

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'would' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #43

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'would' in Written Corpus Frequency: #55

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'would' in Verbs Frequency: #6

How to pronounce would?

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 would in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of would in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of would in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of would in a Sentence

1. Steve Berry:

   We oppose a separate engine standard, which we believe is redundant because improvements in engine efficiency would be reflected in a complete vehicle assessment, an overly stringent engine standard also could force manufacturers to introduce technologies and design changes before they are fully ready to do so.

2. Rachel Lee:

   So if and when it decides to start reengaging, it would not look strange to the North Korean people.

3. Richard Isaacson:

   I would call this a pilot study, the call to action would be that we need more robust longitudinal studies with a pre - and a post-assessment of more than brain imaging. The study should also measure cognitive and neurological function and look for changes.

4. William Evans:

   We never anticipated what his reaction would be.

5. Scott Minerd:

   That decline would be easy.

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