would
wuhd
Would (verb) means used to describe what someone was going to do, from the point of view of the past. Example: “She said she would call as soon as she landed.”
verb
1
Used to describe what someone was going to do, from the point of view of the past.
"She said she would call as soon as she landed."
"He promised he would send the photos by the end of the day."
"I knew they would be late because of the roadworks."
2
Used to describe something that used to happen repeatedly in the past.
"Every summer we would drive down to the coast."
"When I was little, my dad would read me a story every night."
"After lunch, the old man would sit by the window and doze."
3
Used to describe a hypothetical result, given a certain condition.
"If I had more time, I would learn the piano."
"If it rained tomorrow, we would move the picnic indoors."
"She would be much happier if she lived closer to her friends."
4
Used to make a polite request or offer.
"Would you pass the salt, please?"
"Would you like another cup of tea before you go?"
"I would be grateful if you could close the window."
How to use would
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe past-tense/conditional form of "will" — used for past habits, hypotheticals, and polite requests.
Common mistake
Avoid "would of" — it should always be "would have" (the confusion comes from the contraction "would've" sounding like "would of").
Easily confused with
Common pairings
would rather
would like
would have
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Word forms
- Plural
- woulds
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She said she _____ call as soon as she landed.
Etymology
The past tense of "will," from Old English wolde.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for would
See all rhymes for would →Frequently asked questions
What does “would” mean?
The word “would” means used to describe what someone was going to do, from the point of view of the past. In plain terms, the past-tense/conditional form of "will" — used for past habits, hypotheticals, and polite requests.
How do you pronounce “would”?
“Would” is pronounced wuhd (/wəd/ in IPA).
How do you use “would” in a sentence?
Here is “would” used in a sentence: “She said she would call as soon as she landed.”
What is another word for “would”?
Words with a similar meaning to “would” include be so good as to, kindly and please.
What part of speech is “would”?
“Would” is a verb.
Where does the word “would” come from?
The word “would” comes from Old English. The past tense of "will," from Old English wolde.
Is “would” a common word?
“Would” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “would” have?
“Would” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: used to describe what someone was going to do, from the point of view of the past.
What is the difference between would and will?
"Will" talks about the future from the present ("she says she will call"), while "would" expresses the future from a past point of view ("she said she would call"). "Would" is also used for hypothetical situations ("I would go if I could") and polite requests ("would you help me?"), where "will" sounds more direct.
What is the difference between would and used to for past habits?
Both describe repeated past actions: "every summer we would swim in the lake" and "we used to swim in the lake." The difference is that "used to" can also describe past states ("I used to live there"), whereas "would" only works for repeated actions, not states.
What is the difference between would and could in polite requests?
Both soften a request, but "would you...?" asks about willingness while "could you...?" asks about ability or possibility. In everyday use they are largely interchangeable, and both sound noticeably more polite than "will you" or "can you."
Is "would of" correct?
No. The correct form is "would have" ("I would have gone"), often contracted to "would've." "Would of" is a misspelling that arises because "would've" sounds like "would of" in speech.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing would in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
Frank, a University of Rochester professor who looks for signs of life in the universe, was digging into whether advanced civilizations would inevitably trigger climate shifts, just as humans are doing now.
From
CNN · Jul 25, 2026
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Vocabulary lists that include would:
