wouldn

would-n't · contraction

imported

Definitions

contraction

  1. 1.

    Contraction of "would not."

  2. 2.

    Used to express unwillingness or refusal in the past or conditional.

  3. 3.

    Used in negative conditional statements.

  4. 4.

    Used in polite negative responses.

Related words

Antonyms: would
See also: couldn't, shouldn't, won't, would

Etymology

A contraction of "would" + "not." Like other English contractions ending in "-n't," this form became standardized during the Early Modern English period as spoken language patterns were increasingly reflected in writing.