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could
[ kood; unstressed kuhd ]
auxiliary verb
- a simple past tense of can 1.
- (used to express possibility):
I wonder who that could be at the door. That couldn't be true.
- (used to express conditional possibility or ability):
You could do it if you tried.
- (used in making polite requests):
Could you open the door for me, please?
- (used in asking for permission):
Could I borrow your pen?
- (used in offering suggestions or advice):
You could write and ask for more information. You could at least have called me.
could
/ ʊ /
verb
- used as an auxiliary to make the past tense of can 1
- used as an auxiliary, esp in polite requests or in conditional sentences, to make the subjunctive mood of can 1
she'd telephone if she could
could I see you tonight?
- used as an auxiliary to indicate suggestion of a course of action
you could take the car tomorrow if it's raining
- often foll by well used as an auxiliary to indicate a possibility
he could well be a spy
Usage Note
51Թ History and Origins
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of could1
Idioms and Phrases
see can (could) do with ; see with half an eye, could . Also see under can ; couldn't .Example Sentences
“I think we could have given a better effort, for sure,” said Leonard, who had 22 points.
The transfers who could immediately become the team’s top two quarterbacks once they enroll this summer exchanged hugs with their new coaches Saturday afternoon before watching the final practice of spring.
It allowed people to make computer-to-computer calls free, and then became the way users could make low cost calls to landlines and mobiles to people in other parts of the world.
"They don't understand how bad it could affect her."
“It helps having people there supporting me. Even though we’d beaten them twice this is the finals and we knew it could go either way.”
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Related 51Թs
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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