- wishing or pretending to be: a would-be wit.
- intended to be: a would-be kindness.
- a person who wishes or pretends to be something: Opera singers and would-bes should practice at least four hours a day.
- wanting or professing to be
- intended to be
- a person who wants or professes to be something that he is not
- the person to whom one is is engaged to be married; fiancé or fiancée