could

[ kood; unstressed kuhd ]

/ kʊd; unstressed kəd /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR could ON THESAURUS.COM

verb

a simple past tense of can¹.

auxiliary verb

(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.

Origin of could

Middle English coude,Old English cūthe; modern -l- (from would¹, should) first attested 1520–30

usage note for could

See care.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH could

can, could

Words nearby could

Coughlin, cough mixture, cough reflex, cough syrup, cough up, could, couldn't, couldn't care less, couldst, coulee, coulibiac

Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

British Dictionary definitions for could

could

/ (kʊd) /

verb (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive)

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 could I see you tonight?; she'd telephone if she could

used as an auxiliary to indicate suggestion of a course of actionyou could take the car tomorrow if it's raining

(often foll by well) used as an auxiliary to indicate a possibilityhe could well be a spy

Word Origin for could

Old English cūthe; influenced by would, should; see can 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with could

could

see can (could) do with; see with half an eye, could. Also see under can; couldn't.

单词	could
释义	could [ kood; unstressed kuhd ] / kʊd; unstressed kəd / SEE SYNONYMS FOR could ON THESAURUS.COM verb a simple past tense of can¹. auxiliary verb (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. Origin of could Middle English coude,Old English cūthe; modern -l- (from would¹, should) first attested 1520–30 usage note for could See care. WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH could can, could Words nearby could Coughlin, cough mixture, cough reflex, cough syrup, cough up, could, couldn't, couldn't care less, couldst, coulee, coulibiac Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020 British Dictionary definitions for could could / (kʊd) / verb (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive) 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 could I see you tonight?; she'd telephone if she could used as an auxiliary to indicate suggestion of a course of actionyou could take the car tomorrow if it's raining (often foll by well) used as an auxiliary to indicate a possibilityhe could well be a spy Word Origin for could Old English cūthe; influenced by would, should; see can 1 Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 Idioms and Phrases with could could see can (could) do with; see with half an eye, could. Also see under can; couldn't. The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Words related to could keep, commit, manage, take care of, bottle, may, expel, terminate, dismiss, boot, sack, bounce, ax, cashier, discharge, put up, make out, can do, could, cut the mustard
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could

verb

auxiliary verb

Origin of could

usage note for could

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH could

Words nearby could

British Dictionary definitions for could

verb (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive)

Word Origin for could

Idioms and Phrases with could

Words related to could