would-be
adjective/ˈwʊd biː/
/ˈwʊd biː/
[only before noun]- used to describe somebody who is hoping to become the type of person mentioned
- a would-be actor
- advice for would-be parents
Oxford Collocations DictionaryWould-be is used with these nouns:- actor, actress
- assassin
- buyer
- …
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would-be