wannabee
- noun
- /ˈwɒnəˌbi/
- Slang
- In the fast lanes are found the competitive triathletes, the varsity collegiate swimmers, and the Olympic wannabees.
Examples
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Wannabees with investment portfolios, I reckon.
Blog text (18) -
You know, when an Orc sees me... they see a man... a wannabee human.
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A lot of King wannabees, on their way to Vegas.
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These "masters of the universe wannabees" are not my role models.
Blog text (5) -
Let's be beer lovers, not wine haters or wine wannabees.
Blog text (17) -
What a sad state our country is in when a bunch of wannabees, has-beens, and never-was people become prime time.
Blog text (34) -
As African American youth tend to express disdain for cultural "wannabees," or people who deny their own identity when trying to fit into another group, counselors who attempt to assimilate too quickly with client culture will likely be disregarded by their clientele.
Academic text (2004) -
Many wannabees try to copy the styles of famous celebrities in order to gain attention.
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He is just another wannabee hoping to become a pop star like his idol.
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There are countless wannabees in the entertainment industry, all striving for fame and success.
Synonyms
A person who wants to be famous or important but lacks real skill
A person who wants to achieve something, often in a competition
A person who pretends to be someone they are not to fit in
A person who wants an important job or position
A person who tries to copy and match someone's words or actions
A person who copies others' voices, actions, or gestures to entertain people
A person who wants to reach their goals in work or life
Antonyms
How Ambitious
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Wannabee comes from the casual phrase wanna be, which is short for 'want to be'. So a wannabee is someone who wants to be like another person, often someone famous or successful.