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.

Definition for would (2 of 4)

would 2
[ wohld ]
/ woʊld /

noun

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.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH will

can may shall will (see usage note at can1) (see usage note at 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, noun

Example 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, noun

Word 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