would

¹

[ wood; unstressed wuhd ]

auxiliary verb

1. a simple past tense and past participle of will ¹.
2. (used to express the future in past sentences):

   He said he would go tomorrow.

3. (used in place of will, to make a statement or form a question less direct or blunt):

   That would scarcely be fair. Would you be so kind?

4. (used to express repeated or habitual action in the past):

   We would visit Grandma every morning up at the farm.

5. (used to express an intention or inclination):

   Nutritionists would have us all eat whole grains.

6. (used to express an uncertainty):

   It would appear that he is guilty.

7. (used in conditional sentences to express choice or possibility):

   They would come if they had the fare. If the temperature were higher, the water would evaporate.

8. would have, (used with a past participle to express unfulfilled intention or preference):

   I would have saved you some but Jimmy took it all.

verb (used with object)

1. (used to express a wish):

   Would he were here!

would

²

[ wohld ]

noun

1. weld ².

would

/ wʊd; wəd /

verb

1. used as an auxiliary to form the past tense or subjunctive mood of will 1
2. withyou, he, she, it, they, or a noun as subject used as an auxiliary to indicate willingness or desire in a polite manner

   would you help me, please?

3. used as an auxiliary to describe a past action as being accustomed or habitual

   every day we would go for walks

4. I wish

   would that he were here

Usage

See should

Confusables Note

See should.

Word History and Origins

Origin of would¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English would, wald(e), wold(e), wuld(e), Old English wolde, walde; will ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. would like, (used to express desire):

   I would like to go next year.

2. would rather. rather ( def 9 ).

More idioms and phrases containing would

• as luck would have it
• fly on the wall, would like to be a
• wouldn't

Example Sentences

But since this is such a massive amount of data, to really do anything too fancy would take months and an eye-watering amount of computer processing to achieve.

From Los Angeles Times

Gaetz graduated from William & Mary Law School but otherwise has no experience that would suggest he’s qualified to lead the Department of Justice.

From Salon

The suspension order would be reviewed after 12 months, the panel said.

From BBC

A judge in Texas ordered the auction in September, and various groups – both Jones’s allies and detractors – had suggested they would bid for the company.

From BBC

He said Mr Stockton denied causing Charlie's death and both parents would claim his bruises were accidental and the result of "everyday occurrences".

From BBC