Alternative Spelling guide

'd

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

This record is a supporting form or spelling variant of had. Use the canonical entry for the main definition and word-family path.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /d/
  • US: /d/
  • US: [d]
  • US: [d̚]
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

Contraction of had, as an auxiliary verb.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, clitic, contraction

Examples

  • He’d done his best, but it hadn't been enough.
  • You’d seen it before anyone else had.
  • I’d better not.
  • They baby’d been crying all night.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

Contraction of had, as a main verb, but not a phrasal verb.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, clitic, contraction

Examples

  • I'd no reason to doubt him.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

Contraction of would or should.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, clitic, contraction

Examples

  • I’d like to help, but I have no time.
  • John’d prefer not to go out tonight.
  • If I knew his name, I'd tell you.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: 'ld

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

Contraction of did.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: abbreviation, alt-of, clitic, colloquial, contraction

Examples

  • Hey, where’d everybody go? Why’d they take off?
  • Why the hell'd you do that?
  • y'all'dn't've

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Contraction of would or had.