would
11 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of WOULD
[modal verb]
1
— used to indicate what someone said or thought about what was going to happen or be done
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She said she would be leaving soon. [=she said, “I will be leaving soon”]
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She said (that) she would help me with my project.
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He thought (that) the drive would take about two hours.
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I had no idea where the path would lead me.
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They knew (that) I would enjoy the trip.
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I never thought that she would lie to me.
2
— used to talk about a possible situation that has not happened or that you are imagining
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You would look good in a tuxedo.
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If I could leave work early, I would.
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It would be a shame to miss the party.
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What would you do if you won the lottery?
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You would be stupid to quit your job. = It would be stupid (of you) to quit your job. [=if you quit your job, you will be doing something stupid]
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Things would be different if I still had that job.
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If you lived closer, I would see you every day.
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If they were coming, they would be here by now.
3
— used with have to talk about something that did not happen or was not done
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She would have won the race if she hadn't tripped.
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I would have stopped by your house had I known you were home.
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If you had told me that you were coming, I would have picked you up at the airport.
4
— used to say what you think someone should do or to ask for someone's opinion about what to do
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If I were you, I would go to the hospital. [=I think that you should go to the hospital]
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I would take the train instead of driving into the city.
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I would turn back if I were you.
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What would you do in my situation?
5
— used to say that you want to do or have something
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We would like to help [=we want to help] in any way we can.
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I'd like to help, but I'm too busy.
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She would like to attend college, but she can't afford it right now.
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I would rather have ice cream than cheesecake. = (more commonly) I'd rather have ice cream than cheesecake.
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I'd rather not go out this evening. [=I don't want to go out this evening]
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I would sooner die than be enslaved.
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I'd sooner starve than eat that disgusting food.
6
— used to ask a polite question or to make a polite request, offer, invitation, etc.
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Would you please help us?
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Would you care for some tea?
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She asked if I would have dinner with her.
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Would you mind making a little less noise? = Please make a little less noise, would you?
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Would you come this way, please? [=please come this way]
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Would it be all right if we left a little early?
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I would like to see the wine list.
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Would you like to join me for dinner?
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Would anyone like more coffee?
7
a
— used to say that you are willing to do something
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I would be glad/delighted to help. = I'd be glad/delighted to help.
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I would do anything to protect my children.
b
— used in negative statements to say that someone was not willing to do something
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He would not help us. = (more commonly) He wouldn't help us. [=he refused to help us]
8
— used to express a wish
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I wish that he would call me more often. = I wish he'd call me more often.
9
— used to express your opinion
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I would hate to have that job.
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I would love to be in her position.
10
— used to talk about something that always or often happened in the past
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When my friend still lived here, we would eat lunch together every day.
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She would always take the nine o'clock bus. = She'd always take the nine o'clock bus.
11
— used with so (that) to explain why something was done
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I packed the vase carefully so that it would survive the trip.
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We left early so we would be sure to arrive on time.
12
— used to say what you think is probably true
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I would say that he looks to be around sixty. [=he looks like he might be sixty years old, but I'm not sure]
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I would think/hope that he was telling the truth, but I really don't know.
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“How long will it take?” “I would imagine it will take about an hour.”
13
— used to say that something is possible or likely
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I think my swimming pool would [=could] hold 20,000 gallons of water.
14
— used to express your displeasure with behavior that you think is typical of someone
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“He said that you were the one who made the mistake.” “He would say that, wouldn't he? What a jerk.”
15
old-fashioned + literary
— used to say that you wish something was true, had happened, etc.
— usually + that
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I would [=wish] I were young again.
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I would [=wish] that he had lived. = Would that he had lived.
how would I/we know
— used to say that you do not know the answer to a question and are surprised that you were asked it
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“Where did they go?” “How would I know?”
