Wannabe
noun
A person who tries to act or look like someone else, especially famous, because they want to be like them.
He's just a Michael Jackson wannabe.
Often appears as...
- rock star wannabe
- celebrity wannabe
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
adjective
Desiring to be or trying to mimic another person or a type of person.
She's wearing a laddish, wannabe tough style.
Often appears as...
- wannabe hero
- wannabe musician
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
noun
A person who tries to act or look like someone else, especially famous, because they want to be like them.
He's just a Michael Jackson wannabe.
Often appears as...
- rock star wannabe
- celebrity wannabe
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
adjective
Desiring to be or trying to mimic another person or a type of person.
She's wearing a laddish, wannabe tough style.
Often appears as...
- wannabe hero
- wannabe musician
Usage tips
Informal, Disapproving
Colloquial
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Imitation
It may imply a lack of originality, suggesting that the wannabe is copying someone else's style or achievements.
The new singer is just another Madonna wannabe.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Negative
Usually used to criticize someone for not being genuine or for trying too hard.
Stop being such a pop star wannabe and be yourself!
Pro Tip 3/3Colloquial Usage
It's a casual word, often used among friends or in the media, but not in formal situations.
Did you see those model wannabes at the party?
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Imitation
It may imply a lack of originality, suggesting that the wannabe is copying someone else's style or achievements.
The new singer is just another Madonna wannabe.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Negative
Usually used to criticize someone for not being genuine or for trying too hard.
Stop being such a pop star wannabe and be yourself!
Pro Tip 3/3Colloquial Usage
It's a casual word, often used among friends or in the media, but not in formal situations.
Did you see those model wannabes at the party?
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Imitation
It may imply a lack of originality, suggesting that the wannabe is copying someone else's style or achievements.
The new singer is just another Madonna wannabe.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Negative
Usually used to criticize someone for not being genuine or for trying too hard.
Stop being such a pop star wannabe and be yourself!
Pro Tip 3/3Colloquial Usage
It's a casual word, often used among friends or in the media, but not in formal situations.
Did you see those model wannabes at the party?
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Video examples
Mae Jemison on teaching...
Talent would run from either of these fields if you said you had to choose either. Then they'll go to something where they think, "Well, I can be creative and logical at the same time." Now, I grew up in the '60s and I'll admit it -- actually, my childhood spanned the '60s, and I was a wannabe hippie,
Video examples
Can we domesticate...
intelligently and I also have a little bit of a sort of smartass subtitle to this yeah but I'm not just doing this to be cute I really think that the subtitle explains what somebody like me is sort of a Darwin wannabe how they are to look at one's role in sort of coming into
Video examples
Paul Ewald: Can we...
And I also have a little bit of a sort of smartass subtitle to this. But I'm not just doing this to be cute. I really think that this subtitle explains what somebody like me, who's sort of a Darwin wannabe, how they actually look at one's role in
Video examples
Solving the Mystery of...
these wannabe conquistadors go to the now humbled conquered inca and asked them hey where's another civilization we could conquer we want more gold out of vengeance the inca tell them oh you want gold you know go to the amazon you will find all
Video examples
The beauty of being a...
and about my crappy home life, and a little bit about how grief and loss can make you insane. The prize was a trip to New York City to meet big-time editors and agents and other authors. So kind of it was the wannabe writer's dream, right?
Video examples
Billon Bares All PIPE...
pursued it I'll leave it what does that mean who do you call to inquire about obtaining an underwear model job you called an agency he knows that the first thing I thought about and I heard billon wannabe underwear model
Video examples
Jessica Kerr: Who makes...
Government has taken no responsibility at all here. And to get past that stigma on wannabe judges, the profession itself has to change. Whether it happens formally or informally,
Video examples
The Art of Skydiving PIPE...
So which of our wannabe record breakers has remembered how we speed up our terminal velocity? Not these ones. That is the complete opposite. Their raft has a large surface area,
Video examples
What it's like to be a...
it's great to meet you. Let me tell you who I am. I'm a mom, a coffee lover -- double espresso, cream on the side. I'm an introvert. I'm a wannabe fitness fanatic.
Video examples
The ATF Raid the Branch...
high-school dropout and wannabe rock singer David Koresh now has a new
Video examples
Mae Jemison on teaching...
Talent would run from either of these fields if you said you had to choose either. Then they'll go to something where they think, "Well, I can be creative and logical at the same time." Now, I grew up in the '60s and I'll admit it -- actually, my childhood spanned the '60s, and I was a wannabe hippie,
Video examples
Can we domesticate...
intelligently and I also have a little bit of a sort of smartass subtitle to this yeah but I'm not just doing this to be cute I really think that the subtitle explains what somebody like me is sort of a Darwin wannabe how they are to look at one's role in sort of coming into
Video examples
Paul Ewald: Can we...
And I also have a little bit of a sort of smartass subtitle to this. But I'm not just doing this to be cute. I really think that this subtitle explains what somebody like me, who's sort of a Darwin wannabe, how they actually look at one's role in
Video examples
Solving the Mystery of...
these wannabe conquistadors go to the now humbled conquered inca and asked them hey where's another civilization we could conquer we want more gold out of vengeance the inca tell them oh you want gold you know go to the amazon you will find all
Video examples
The beauty of being a...
and about my crappy home life, and a little bit about how grief and loss can make you insane. The prize was a trip to New York City to meet big-time editors and agents and other authors. So kind of it was the wannabe writer's dream, right?
Video examples
Billon Bares All PIPE...
pursued it I'll leave it what does that mean who do you call to inquire about obtaining an underwear model job you called an agency he knows that the first thing I thought about and I heard billon wannabe underwear model
Video examples
Jessica Kerr: Who makes...
Government has taken no responsibility at all here. And to get past that stigma on wannabe judges, the profession itself has to change. Whether it happens formally or informally,
Video examples
The Art of Skydiving PIPE...
So which of our wannabe record breakers has remembered how we speed up our terminal velocity? Not these ones. That is the complete opposite. Their raft has a large surface area,
Video examples
What it's like to be a...
it's great to meet you. Let me tell you who I am. I'm a mom, a coffee lover -- double espresso, cream on the side. I'm an introvert. I'm a wannabe fitness fanatic.
Video examples
The ATF Raid the Branch...
high-school dropout and wannabe rock singer David Koresh now has a new
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Katharine Gun
British Activist
What has to be understood is that most whistle-blowers are not natural activists - this one certainly wasn't. We usually work in anonymous jobs, far from the spotlight. We are not campaigners, or journalists, or wannabe celebrities, craving a platform. Our conscience tells us we have to reveal what we know.
Quote examples
Bonnie Tyler
Welsh Musician
I advise wannabe singers to form a band, practise in your garage if you have to, but do as many charity or open mic shows as possible to get experience. I sang for seven years before getting a record deal, and I was already loving what I was doing. I just got lucky and got discovered.
Quote examples
Anupam Roy
Indian Musician
I was always a wannabe 'singer-songwriter' but nothing was happening. I was trying for albums. I was too afraid to quit my job for nothing. But my friends kept on encouraging me. I kept on writing songs. My first hit was probably my 150th song.
Quote examples
Ann Coulter
American Journalist
I used to dread going on 'Politically Incorrect' with 'up and coming' comedians. But at least on 'Politically Incorrect', there would be just one has-been or wannabe on the panel.
Quote examples
Sheherazade Goldsmith
English Environmentalist
There are a lot of irritating aspects about large supermarkets for the wannabe eco-warrior, but the one that gets most of us hottest under the collar is packaging.
Quote examples
Anne Stevenson
American Poet
I truly hate marketing promotions, and I don't at all approve of encouraging wannabe poets to write bad poetry.
Quote examples
Danielle Schneider
American Actress
On all the 'Housewives' shows, there's always some wannabe wife who's always sticking her head in.
Quote examples
Mamie Van Doren
American Actress
I have never been a Marilyn Monroe wannabe. I have always been happy in my own skin!
Quote examples
Joshua Bell
American Musician
I write arrangements. I'm sort of a wannabe composer.
Quote examples
Patrick Cox
Canadian Designer
Wannabe was so huge. So big. So unexpected.
Quote examples
Katharine Gun
British Activist
What has to be understood is that most whistle-blowers are not natural activists - this one certainly wasn't. We usually work in anonymous jobs, far from the spotlight. We are not campaigners, or journalists, or wannabe celebrities, craving a platform. Our conscience tells us we have to reveal what we know.
Quote examples
Bonnie Tyler
Welsh Musician
I advise wannabe singers to form a band, practise in your garage if you have to, but do as many charity or open mic shows as possible to get experience. I sang for seven years before getting a record deal, and I was already loving what I was doing. I just got lucky and got discovered.
Quote examples
Anupam Roy
Indian Musician
I was always a wannabe 'singer-songwriter' but nothing was happening. I was trying for albums. I was too afraid to quit my job for nothing. But my friends kept on encouraging me. I kept on writing songs. My first hit was probably my 150th song.
Quote examples
Ann Coulter
American Journalist
I used to dread going on 'Politically Incorrect' with 'up and coming' comedians. But at least on 'Politically Incorrect', there would be just one has-been or wannabe on the panel.
Quote examples
Sheherazade Goldsmith
English Environmentalist
There are a lot of irritating aspects about large supermarkets for the wannabe eco-warrior, but the one that gets most of us hottest under the collar is packaging.
Quote examples
Anne Stevenson
American Poet
I truly hate marketing promotions, and I don't at all approve of encouraging wannabe poets to write bad poetry.
Quote examples
Danielle Schneider
American Actress
On all the 'Housewives' shows, there's always some wannabe wife who's always sticking her head in.
Quote examples
Mamie Van Doren
American Actress
I have never been a Marilyn Monroe wannabe. I have always been happy in my own skin!
Quote examples
Joshua Bell
American Musician
I write arrangements. I'm sort of a wannabe composer.
Quote examples
Patrick Cox
Canadian Designer
Wannabe was so huge. So big. So unexpected.
Example 1 of 10
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