wannabe

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Is the owner an absentee plutocrat who texts “Sounds good” from Davos or a wannabe Rockne who played six or seven downs at Choate?

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026

In Hollywood, there’s an old joke among wannabe actors scraping by doing odd jobs between auditions: “Well, right now I’m parking cars, but what I really want to do is direct!”

From Salon • Jan. 1, 2026

"Never in your life label me a thug again. Never label me a wannabe gangster," he said.

From BBC • Nov. 27, 2025

Anxious market reactions to otherwise solid earnings reports, the appearance of wannabe retail products—both are signs.

From Barron's • Oct. 23, 2025

A wannabe vampire, or maybe a Kool-Aid freak?

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan