Here are some examples:
* "The would-be king was overthrown before he could claim the throne." This means that the person was trying to become king, but failed.
* "She was a would-be actress, taking any role she could get." This means she wanted to be an actress, but hadn't achieved success yet.
* "The would-be thief was caught red-handed." This means that the person was attempting to steal, but failed.
Essentially, "wouldbe" suggests a desire or intention, but not a complete realization.