Wannabe Definition

wänəbē, wônəbē
wannabes
noun
wannabes
A person who wants to be or be like someone else or to attain some status or condition.
A rock-star wannabe.
Webster's New World
One who aspires to a role or position.
American Heritage
One who imitates the behavior, customs, or dress of an admired person or group.
American Heritage
A product designed to imitate the qualities or characteristics of something.
American Heritage

Someone who wishes to be or do something, but lacks the qualifications or talent; an overeager amateur; an aspirant.

Hollywood's restaurants are full of wannabe actors waiting to be discovered.
Wiktionary
Synonyms:
adjective
Wishing or aspiring to be; would-be.
American Heritage

Other Word Forms of Wannabe

Noun

Singular:
wannabe
Plural:
wannabes

Origin of Wannabe

  • Wannabe is a noun formed from a complex verb combination of the phrase, "want to be". Wannabe can be considered a conversion, category change, or functional shift.

    From Wiktionary

  • Written form of a reduction of "want to be"

    From Wiktionary

  • Alteration of want to be

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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