How to Use could in a Sentence

could

auxiliary verb
Definition of couldnext
Synonyms for couldnext
  • The Supreme Court couldn’t find the source of the leak.
    — Richard Galant, CNN, 22 Jan. 2023
  • Man, the Jazz couldn’t get close to the basket tonight.
    — Andy Larsen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 29 Dec. 2022
  • The supply chain just couldn't get it to us fast enough.
    — Tax Notes Staff, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022
  • For much of the first set, neither team could find an edge.
    — Mike Puzzanghera, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Oct. 2022
  • Maybe someone at the host stand near the entrance could help?
    — Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 23 Dec. 2022
  • His $4 billion deal to buy the Phoenix Suns could help him live his sports dream.
    — Sopan Deb, New York Times, 23 Dec. 2022
  • Wales could easily have one foot in the round of 16 by the end of the first week of the tournament.
    — Jonathan Clegg, WSJ, 18 Nov. 2022
  • There has been talk in some circles that this could be the year the Bayside streak ends.
    — Ben Thomas | Bthomas@al.com, al, 14 Oct. 2022
  • The cone only indicates where the center of the storm could go.
    — Leigh Morgan, al, 7 Nov. 2022
  • The Steelers couldn’t stop the run in their season debut.
    — Catena Media, al, 17 Sep. 2022
  • But before the Sox could get a cross-checker to see Valdez, the Astros signed him.
    — Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 3 Aug. 2022
  • The Bears couldn’t stop Aaron Jones, who went off for 132 yards and a rushing touchdown.
    — BostonGlobe.com, 19 Sep. 2022
  • That could be a goal like wanting to do better in a class or make a new friend.
    — Phyllis Fagell, Washington Post, 15 Aug. 2022
  • The trees were removed so the company could build the sludge pond, according to the city.
    — al, 12 Aug. 2022
  • Dominguez couldn't find his feel with the ball as the rain picked up, puddles formed near third base and the infield dirt turned to mush.
    — Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2022
  • Dominguez couldn’t find his feel with the ball as the rain picked up, puddles formed near third base and the infield dirt turned to mush.
    — Dan Gelston, ajc, 24 Oct. 2022
  • In a full count and a scoreless game, Lodolo was looking for the right pitch that could get him out of his biggest jam of the day.
    — Charlie Goldsmith, The Enquirer, 31 July 2022
  • That suggests there could be room for growth for the GOP among rural Latinos.
    — Dante Chinni, NBC News, 2 Oct. 2022
  • Between Thursday and next week, L.A. could get a total of up to 4 inches of rain.
    — Summer Linstaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2022
  • That was a rainy game, and this weekend’s could be too if the remnants of Hurricane Ian make it to Charm City.
    — Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 2 Oct. 2022
  • Officers responded to the home and removed the cover so the deer could get out.
    — Emily Sweeney, BostonGlobe.com, 30 Dec. 2022
  • But democratic Europe should still be wary that things could get a lot worse.
    — Bytristan Bove, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2022
  • For her part, Wagner said the time couldn't be more urgent to have a prime-time platform discussing the news.
    — David Bauder, ajc, 15 Aug. 2022
  • Velus Jones, who had a 44-yard reception against the Bills, could get more action on offense.
    — Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 28 Dec. 2022
  • They were beat in the passing game and missed a number of open-field tackles that could have prevented long gains.
    — Lance Reisland, cleveland, 1 Dec. 2022
  • No one expected Miami could go out and get the coach of its dreams and be this bad his first season.
    — Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2022
  • On fourth down, Rising, a punter in high school, quick-kicked the ball to around the goal line, but Utah’s coverage team couldn’t get there in time to avoid a touchback.
    — Josh Newman, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Oct. 2022
  • Curiously, the player who could have used the extra snaps was the first player removed from the game.
    — Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2023
  • He was stretchered off the field and replaced by Teddy Bridgewater, who led the Dolphins to a 15-14 lead, but couldn’t get on the board after that.
    — Jonathan X. Simmons, cleveland, 30 Sep. 2022
  • Helen could return to work in Cleveland within a few days.
    — E. Tammy Kim, The New Yorker, 22 July 2022

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'could.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Last Updated: