would

Etymology
From, past tense of.

Verb

 * 1) Used to; was or were habitually accustomed to;.
 * When we were younger, we would cycle out to the beach most summer Sundays.
 * 1) Was or were determined to;.
 * 2) Could naturally have been expected to (given the tendencies of someone's character etc.).
 * 3)  Wanted to.
 * 4) * 1852, James Murdock, trans. Johann Lorenz Mosheim, Institutes of Ecclesiastical History, II.7.iii:
 * The Greeks, especially those who would be thought adepts in mystic theology, ran after fantastic allegories.
 * 1)  Wished, desired (something).
 * It's disgraceful the way that they've treated you. I would write and complain.
 * 1) ; are (you) willing to …?
 * 2)  Might wish (+ verb in past subjunctive);.
 * 3) * 1912,, , translated by , 8.16:
 * But as the youth increased their annoyance by declaring that the goddess was quite right, because the Emperor was Archon Eponym of the city of Athens, he said: "Would that he also presided the Panathenaic festival."
 * 1)  Might desire; wish (something).
 * 1)  Wanted to.
 * 2) * 1852, James Murdock, trans. Johann Lorenz Mosheim, Institutes of Ecclesiastical History, II.7.iii:
 * The Greeks, especially those who would be thought adepts in mystic theology, ran after fantastic allegories.
 * 1)  Wished, desired (something).
 * It's disgraceful the way that they've treated you. I would write and complain.
 * 1) ; are (you) willing to …?
 * 2)  Might wish (+ verb in past subjunctive);.
 * 3) * 1912,, , translated by , 8.16:
 * But as the youth increased their annoyance by declaring that the goddess was quite right, because the Emperor was Archon Eponym of the city of Athens, he said: "Would that he also presided the Panathenaic festival."
 * 1)  Might desire; wish (something).
 * 1)  Wished, desired (something).
 * It's disgraceful the way that they've treated you. I would write and complain.
 * 1) ; are (you) willing to …?
 * 2)  Might wish (+ verb in past subjunctive);.
 * 3) * 1912,, , translated by , 8.16:
 * But as the youth increased their annoyance by declaring that the goddess was quite right, because the Emperor was Archon Eponym of the city of Athens, he said: "Would that he also presided the Panathenaic festival."
 * 1)  Might desire; wish (something).
 * It's disgraceful the way that they've treated you. I would write and complain.
 * 1) ; are (you) willing to …?
 * 2)  Might wish (+ verb in past subjunctive);.
 * 3) * 1912,, , translated by , 8.16:
 * But as the youth increased their annoyance by declaring that the goddess was quite right, because the Emperor was Archon Eponym of the city of Athens, he said: "Would that he also presided the Panathenaic festival."
 * 1)  Might desire; wish (something).
 * It's disgraceful the way that they've treated you. I would write and complain.
 * 1) ; are (you) willing to …?
 * 2)  Might wish (+ verb in past subjunctive);.
 * 3) * 1912,, , translated by , 8.16:
 * But as the youth increased their annoyance by declaring that the goddess was quite right, because the Emperor was Archon Eponym of the city of Athens, he said: "Would that he also presided the Panathenaic festival."
 * 1)  Might desire; wish (something).
 * 1) ; are (you) willing to …?
 * 2)  Might wish (+ verb in past subjunctive);.
 * 3) * 1912,, , translated by , 8.16:
 * But as the youth increased their annoyance by declaring that the goddess was quite right, because the Emperor was Archon Eponym of the city of Athens, he said: "Would that he also presided the Panathenaic festival."
 * 1)  Might desire; wish (something).
 * 1) * 1912,, , translated by , 8.16:
 * But as the youth increased their annoyance by declaring that the goddess was quite right, because the Emperor was Archon Eponym of the city of Athens, he said: "Would that he also presided the Panathenaic festival."
 * 1)  Might desire; wish (something).
 * But as the youth increased their annoyance by declaring that the goddess was quite right, because the Emperor was Archon Eponym of the city of Athens, he said: "Would that he also presided the Panathenaic festival."
 * 1)  Might desire; wish (something).

Usage notes

 * As an auxiliary verb, is followed by the bare infinitive (without ):
 * John said he would have fish for dinner.
 * is frequently contracted to, especially after a pronoun (as in , , and so on).
 * The term would-be retains the senses of both desire and potentiality (those of wannabe and might-be, respectively).
 * Indicating a wish, takes a clause in the past subjunctive (irrealis) mood; this clause may or may not be introduced with . Most commonly in modern usage, it is followed by the adverb rather, as in I would rather that he go now. A call to a deity or other higher power is sometimes interposed after  and before the subjunctive clause, as in Would to God that ; see the citations page for examples.
 * When used, mainly archaically, in the sense of "if only", the first-person subject pronoun is often omitted.

Synonyms

 * (indicating an action in the past that happened repeatedly or commonly): used to
 * (used to express a polite request): be so good as to, kindly, please

Related terms

 * - present tense of would
 * - negative of would
 * - archaic second person singular form of would

Translations
Note: many languages express some meanings of would using a mood or tense rather than by a particular word.


 * Arabic: Use the conditional tense
 * We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the windows!- !سنكون أكثر دفئًا إذا لم تفتح النافذة
 * Assamese: হেঁতেন, হয়
 * Bulgarian:
 * Catalan: Use the conditional tense
 * We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Estariem més calents si no haguessis obert la finestra!
 * Czech: Use conditional tense of + infinitive
 * We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Bylo by nám tepleji, kdybyste neotevřeli okno!
 * Dutch: zou/zouden (past tense of zullen)
 * We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - We zouden warmer zijn als je het raam niet had geopend!
 * Esperanto: Use the conditional tense
 * We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Ni estus pli varmaj se ci ne malfermus la fenestron!
 * Finnish: Use the conditional mood
 * We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Meillä olisi lämpimämpää, jos et olisi avannut ikkunaa!
 * French: Use the conditional tense
 * We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Nous aurions plus chaud si tu n'avais pas ouvert la fenêtre !
 * Georgian:
 * German: Use the subjunctive mood or "würde + infinitive
 * We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Uns wäre wärmer, wenn du das Fenster nicht geöffnet hättest!
 * Greek:
 * Ancient: Use the optative mood + ἄν
 * Hungarian: Use the conditional tense, -na/-ne/-ná/-né
 * It would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Melegebb volna, ha nem nyitottad volna ki az ablakot!
 * Italian: Use the conditional tense
 * We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Staremmo più al caldo se tu non avessi aperto la finestra!
 * Latin: Use the imperfect subjunctive
 * We hoped (that) the slave would carry the wine. - Sperabamus ut servus vinum portaret.
 * Old Assamese: হন্তে
 * Polish: Use the conditional tense (-by-),
 * We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Byłoby nam cieplej, gdybyś nie otworzył okna!
 * Portuguese: use the conditional tense
 * We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Estaríamos sentindo mais calor se não tivesses aberto a janela!
 * Romanian: Use the conditional tense of avea + infinitive,
 * We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Ne-ar fi mai cald dacă n-ai fi deschis fereastra!
 * Russian: Use the conditional tense (бы)
 * We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Нам было бы теплее, если бы ты не открыл окно!
 * Spanish: Use the conditional tense
 * We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - ¡Tendríamos más calor si no hubieras abierto la ventana!
 * Swedish:
 * We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Vi skulle vara varmare om du inte hade öppnat fönstret!
 * Turkish: Use the aorist past tense
 * We would be warmer if you hadn't opened the window! - Pencereyi açmasaydınız, daha sıcak olurduk!


 * Dutch: zou/zouden (past tense of zullen)
 * We sat on the bench asking ourselves if the bus would be too late this time. - We zaten op de bank ons afvragend of de bus deze keer te laat zou zijn.
 * Esperanto: Use the future tense
 * We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Ni sidis sur la benko nin demandante, ĉu la buso malfruos ĉi tiun fojon.
 * Finnish: Use the conditional mood
 * We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Istuimme rannalla miettien, tulisiko linja-auto tämän kerran myöhässä.
 * French: Use the conditional tense
 * We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Nous nous assîmes sur le banc, nous demandant si l'autobus serait en retard cette fois.
 * German: Use the subjunctive mood
 * We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Wir saßen auf der Bank und fragten uns, ob der Bus diesmal zu spät käme.
 * Hungarian: Use the future or present tense with -e
 * We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - A padon ültünk, és azon gondolkoztunk, hogy ezúttal elkésik-e a busz.
 * Italian: Use the conditional perfect tense
 * We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Ci sedemmo sulla panchina, domandandoci se il bus sarebbe in ritardo questa volta.
 * Portuguese: Use the conditional tense (futuro do pretérito)
 * We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Sentamo-nos ao banco, perguntando-nos se o ônibus/autocarro chegaria tarde desta vez.
 * Russian: Use the future tense with (ли)
 * We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Мы сидели на скамейке и гадали, опоздает ли автобус.
 * Spanish: conditional tense
 * We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Nos sentamos en el banco, preguntándonos si el autobús llegaría tarde esta vez
 * Swedish:
 * We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Vi satt på bänken och undrade om bussen skulle bli sen den här gången.
 * Turkish: Use -ip/-ıp/-up/-üp and the negative prospective particle with the definitive accusative
 * We sat on the bench, wondering if the bus would be late this time. - Otobüsün bu sefer geç kalıp kalmayacağını merak ederek bankta oturduk.


 * Dutch: zou/zouden (past tense of zullen)
 * The waiter said that he would be right back. - De ober zei dat hij meteen terug zou keren.
 * Esperanto: Use the future tense
 * The waiter said he would be right back. - La kelnero diris, ke li tuj revenos.
 * Finnish: Use the present tense or omit the subject and use the active present participle with a possessive suffix congruent with the subject
 * The waiter said he would be right back. - Tarjoilija sanoi, että hän palaa pian. / Tarjoilija sanoi palaavansa pian.
 * French: Use the conditional tense
 * The waiter said he would be right back. - Le garçon dit qu'il reviendrait tout de suite.
 * German: Use either the Subjunctive I or II form of the verb, or würde + infinitive
 * The waiter said he would be right back. - Der Kellner sagte, er sei sofort wieder da.
 * Hungarian: Use the future or present tense
 * The waiter said he would be right back. - A pincér azt mondta, hogy mindjárt visszajön.
 * Italian: Use the conditional perfect tense
 * The waiter said he would be right back. - Il cameriere disse che ritornerebbe subito.
 * Portuguese: Use the conditional tense
 * The waiter said he would be right back. - O garçom disse que retornaria logo.
 * Russian: Use the future tense
 * The waiter said he would be right back. - Официант сказал, что скоро вернется.
 * Spanish: conditional tense
 * The waiter said he would be right back. - El camarero dijo que volvería enseguida.
 * Swedish:
 * The waiter said he would be right back. - Kyparen sa att han strax skulle komma tillbaka.
 * Turkish: Use the prospective personal participle with the definitive accusative
 * The waiter said he would be right back. - Garson hemen geri geleceğini söyledi.


 * Dutch: Use the past tense with voorheen or vroeger
 * In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - 's winters zaten we vroeger bij het gat in het bevroren meer en visten we urenlang.
 * Esperanto: Use antaŭe and the past tense
 * In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - En la vintro, ni antaŭe sidis apud la truo sur la frostiĝinta lago kaj antaŭe fiŝkaptis dum horoj.
 * Finnish: ''Use the adessive case with the construction oli tapana
 * In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - Talvisin meillä oli tapana istua jäisen järven avannon vieressä ja kalastaa tuntikausia.''
 * French: Use the imperfect tense
 * In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - En hiver, nous nous asseyions près du trou sur le lac gelé et pêchions pendant des heures.
 * German: Use the preterite tense and immer for emphasis on the repetitive nature
 * In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - Winters saßen wir immer um das Loch auf dem zugefrorenen See und angelten stundenlang.
 * Greek:
 * Ancient: Use imperfect tense alone or past tense with ἄν
 * Hungarian: Use the past tense
 * In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - Minden télen órákat ültünk a jégen a lyuk mellett, és halásztunk.
 * Italian: Use the imperfect tense
 * In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - D'inverno, ci sedevamo presso il buco sul lago ghiacciato e pescavamo per ore.
 * Portuguese: Use the imperfect tense
 * In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - No inverno, sentávamo-nos perto do buraco no lago congelado e pescávamos por horas.
 * Russian: Use the past tense of the verb in the imperfective aspect
 * In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - Зимой мы сидели у лунки на замерзшем озере и часами рыбачили.
 * Spanish: Use of the imperfect tense
 * In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - En invierno, nos sentábamos cerca del agujero en el lago congelado y pescábamos durante horas.
 * Swedish: Use 'brukade' and the infinitive of the verb
 * In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - På vintrarna brukade vi sitta vid vaken i den frusna sjön och brukade fiska i flera timmar.
 * Turkish: Use the aorist past tense
 * In the winters, we would sit by the hole on the frozen lake and fish for hours. - Kışın, donmuş göldeki deliğin yanında oturup saatlerce balık tutardık.


 * Dutch: zou/zouden (past tense of zullen), gelieve
 * Would you please turn off the TV?'' - Zou u a.u.b. de TV kunnen uitzetten, Gelieve de TV uit te schakelen, a.u.b.
 * Esperanto: bonvoli
 * Would you please turn off the TV? - Bonvolu malŝalti la televidon, mi petas?
 * Finnish: Use the conditional
 * Would you please turn off the TV? &mdash; Sulkisitko television?
 * French:, , (imperative)
 * Would you please turn off the TV? - Pourrais-tu éteindre la télé, s'il te plaît? ; Pourriez-vous / Veuillez éteindre la télévision, s'il vous plaît?
 * German: Use the conditional paraphrase employing würden
 * Would you please turn off the TV? - Würden Sie bitte den Fernseher ausschalten?
 * Hungarian: Use the conditional
 * Would you please turn off the TV? Kikapcsolnád a tv-t? / Megtennéd, hogy kikapcsolod a tv-t?
 * Italian:
 * Would you please turn off the TV? - Vuoi spegnere la tivù, per favore? ; Vuole spegnere la televisione, per favore?
 * Portuguese:
 * Would you please turn off the TV? - Podes desligar a televisão/TV, por favor? ; Poderia desligar a televisão, por favor? ; Faria a gentileza de desligar a televisão, por favor?
 * Russian: Use the conditional parafrase with negative or imperative with пожалуйста
 * Would you please turn off the TV? - Телевизор не выключите?, Выключите, пожалуйста, телевизор.
 * Spanish:
 * Would you please turn off the TV? - ¿Podrías apagar la televisión/telé, por favor? ; ¿Podría usted apagar la televisión, por favor? ; Me haría el favor de apagar la televisión, por favor?
 * Turkish: Use the aorist present tense
 * Would you please turn off the TV? - Televizyonu lütfen kapatır mısın?

Noun

 * 1) Something that would happen, or would be the case, under different circumstances; a potentiality.