🤝 Polite or imagined 🕰️ Past of will ⏳ Unreal past 🔁 Past habit 🤔 Probable or expected

would

∞ 1.0

To show that something is likely or expected

auxiliary
/wʊd/

: condicional (probabilidad/conjetura)

She would be here by now if the train was on time.

Examples

If I had to guess, I would say she is about thirty years old.
Given the weather, it would make sense to bring an umbrella today.
That would be the postman, judging by the sound of someone at the door.
I would imagine that's the case.
That would be the postman, judging by the sound of someone at the door.
If I had to guess, I would say she is about thirty years old.
Given the weather, it would make sense to bring an umbrella today.

Synonyms

should

vswould

∞ 1.0

To say that something is likely to happen or be true

expresses probability or a logical conclusion about present or past

Antonyms

cannot

17 1.0

To not be able to do something

Idioms

as luck would have it

Informal

12 5.4

Happens by chance in a lucky, helpful way

face that would stop a clock

Offensive

9.9

A face so ugly that it shocks people

Phrasal Verbs

would have

∞ 2.3

To show that something could have happened in the past but did not

would not

∞ 1.0

To refuse to do something in the past

would not

651 1.0

To say in the past that something will not happen later

How Certain

must

62 1.0

should

∞ 1.0

would

∞ 1.0

could

∞ 1.0

may

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

would infinitive

Etymology

The word would comes from the old English wolde, the past form of will, which showed a person's intention or expectation. So, would is used when we make a guess or show what we expect, a softer or more uncertain form of 'will'.