Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

could've

Contraction
/ˈkʊd.əv/
Definition
A contraction of ‘could have’, typically used in informal speech and writing to express a possibility or hypothetical situation.
Examples
  • She could’ve won the race if she hadn’t injured her ankle.
  • If we had left earlier, we could’ve avoided the traffic.
Meaning
Indicates a potential action or outcome that might have happened in the past but did not occur.
Synonyms
  • might have
  • should have
  • may have