would
1
[ woo d; unstressed wuh d ]
/ wʊd; unstressed wəd /
verb
Idioms for would
would like,
(used to express desire): I would like to go next year.
would rather.
rather(def 9).
Origin of would
1
before 900; Middle English, Old English
wolde. See
will1
usage note for would
See
should.
Words nearby would
wot,
wotan,
wotcher,
wotton,
wouk,
would,
would rather,
would that,
would-be,
wouldn't,
wouldn't dream of
Definition for would (2 of 4)
Definition for would (3 of 4)
will
1
[ wil ]
/ wɪl /
auxiliary verb, present singular 1st person will, 2nd will or (Archaic) wilt, 3rd will, present plural will; past singular 1st person would, 2nd would or (Archaic) wouldst, 3rd would, past plural would; past participle (Obsolete) wold or would; imperative, infinitive, and present participle lacking.
verb (used with or without object), present singular 1st person will, 2nd will or (Archaic) wilt, 3rd will, present plural will; past singular 1st person would, 2nd would or (Archaic) wouldst, 3rd would, past plural would; past participle (Obsolete) wold or would; imperative, infinitive, and present participle lacking.
to wish; desire; like: Go where you will. Ask, if you will, who the owner is.
Origin of will
1
before 900; Middle English
willen, Old English
wyllan; cognate with Dutch
willen, German
wollen, Old Norse
vilja, Gothic
wiljan; akin to Latin
velle to wish
usage note for will
See
shall.
Definition for would (4 of 4)
will
2
[ wil ]
/ wɪl /
noun
verb (used with object), willed, will·ing.
verb (used without object), willed, will·ing.
to exercise the will: To will is not enough, one must do.
to decide or determine: Others debate, but the king wills.
Origin of will
2
before 900; (noun) Middle English
will(e), Old English
will(a); cognate with Dutch
wil, German
Wille, Old Norse
vili, Gothic
wilja; (v.) Middle English
willen, Old English
willian to wish, desire, derivative of the noun; akin to
will1
SYNONYMS FOR will
3
choice.
5
resolution,
decision.
Will,
volition refer to conscious choice as to action or thought.
Will denotes fixed and persistent intent or purpose:
Where there's a will there's a way.
Volition is the power of forming an intention or the incentive for using the will:
to exercise one's volition in making a decision.
9 determine.
11 leave.
OTHER WORDS FROM will
will·er, nounExample sentences from the Web for would
British Dictionary definitions for would (1 of 3)
would
/ (wʊd, unstressed wəd) /
verb (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive)
used as an auxiliary to form the past tense or subjunctive mood of will 1
(with you, 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?
used as an auxiliary to describe a past action as being accustomed or habitual
every day we would go for walks
I wish
would that he were here
undefined would
See
should
British Dictionary definitions for would (2 of 3)
will
1
/ (wɪl) /
verb past would (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive)
Word Origin for will
Old English
willan; related to Old Saxon
willian, Old Norse
vilja, Old High German
wollen, Latin
velle to wish, will
undefined will
See
shall
British Dictionary definitions for would (3 of 3)
will
2
/ (wɪl) /
noun
verb (mainly tr; often takes a clause as object or an infinitive)
Derived forms of will
willer, nounWord Origin for will
Old English
willa; related to Old Norse
vili, Old High German
willeo (German
Wille), Gothic
wilja, Old Slavonic
volja
Idioms and Phrases with would (1 of 2)
would
Idioms and Phrases with would (2 of 2)
will