English · Word Candidate

could

/kəd/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: coulds

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

conditional of can — Used as a past subjunctive (contrary to fact).

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

điều kiện của can — được sử dụng như thì hiện tại trái thực

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

"If I'd had a paddle I could've spun by that dashed root," Meekins said, feeling some apology due for the mishap. "When I first climbed out of that fool creek I thought my arm had got twisted off, but I guess it ain't."

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

conditional of can — Used to politely ask for permission to do something.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

được sử dụng để xin phép làm một việc gì đó một cách lịch sự

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Verb

Examples

Could I borrow your coat?

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Something that could happen, or could be the case, under different circumstances; a potentiality.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

một điều gì đó có thể xảy ra hoặc có thể là trường hợp dưới hoàn cảnh khác nhau

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Noun

Examples

When the golf ball is there, the whole self-interference package — the hopes, worries, and fears; the thoughts on how-to and how-not-to; the woulds, the coulds, and the shoulds — is there too.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “could” mean?

conditional of can — Used as a past subjunctive (contrary to fact).

Is “could” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.