would

would · verb

imported

Definitions

verb

  1. 1.

    Past tense of "will," used to express the future from a past perspective.

  2. 2.

    Used in conditional sentences to express a hypothetical situation.

  3. 3.

    Used to express willingness or consent in the past.

  4. 4.

    Used to express a polite request.

  5. 5.

    Used to express habitual action in the past.

  6. 6.

    Used to express a desire or inclination.

Related words

Antonyms: wouldn't
See also: could, might, should, will

Etymology

From Old English "wolde," past tense of "willan" (to will, wish), from Proto-Germanic "wuldiz," past tense of "wiljan." The word has become primarily a modal auxiliary used for conditionals and politeness in Modern English.