noun / adjective

wannabe

WAH-nuh-bee/ˈwɑːnəbi/

Someone trying to be an admired type of person without yet succeeding.

A wannabe rock star practices guitar, copying a performer's pose on a poster.

A young white aspiring rock musician practices guitar and imitates the stage pose of an admired performer's wordless poster on the bedroom wall.

Etymology

wanEnglishwish

+naEnglishinfinitive marker

+beEnglishbe

“Want to be” turns an expressed ambition into a label for the person who has it. Its use for fans imitating Madonna illustrates the sense of trying to resemble someone admired.

In context

Y'all Street9:38

a lot of what we talk about is related to business. And one of the things that really separates the the real entrepreneurs from the wannabe entrepreneurs is the will to the drive

Ep. 2: Cody Webster - 5x PRCA Bullfighter of the Year - This Job Doesn’t Come With Insurance

More examples

The audition attracts dozens of wannabes hoping for their first big break.
He dismisses the young singer as a wannabe.
The wannabe novelist talks about writing but never finishes a chapter.

Forms

wannabe · wannabes

Similar words

imitator: Emphasizes copying another person rather than seeking that person's status.
aspirant: Neutrally describes someone pursuing a role, without implying inadequacy.
pretender: Suggests falsely claiming a status rather than merely seeking it.