will

¹will

verb \wəl, (ə)l, ^əl, ˈwil\

past would \wəd, (ə)d, ˈwu̇d\ present singular & plural will

Definition of WILL

transitive verb

: desire, wish <call it what you will>

verbal auxiliary

1

—used to express desire, choice, willingness, consent, or in negative constructions refusal <no one would take the job> <if we will all do our best> <will you please stop that racket>

2

—used to express frequent, customary, or habitual action or natural tendency or disposition <will get angry over nothing> <will work one day and loaf the next>

3

—used to express futurity <tomorrow morning I will wake up in this first-class hotel suite — Tennessee Williams>

4

—used to express capability or sufficiency <the back seat will hold three passengers>

5

—used to express probability and often equivalent to the simple verb <that will be the babysitter>

6

a —used to express determination, insistence, persistence, or willfulness <I have made up my mind to go and go I will>

b —used to express inevitability <accidents will happen>

7

—used to express a command, exhortation, or injunction <you will do as I say, at once>

intransitive verb

: to have a wish or desire <whether we will or no>

See Usage Discussion at shall

— if you will

: if you wish to call it that <a kind of preoccupation, or obsession if you will — Louis Auchincloss>

Origin of WILL

Middle English (1st & 3d singular present indicative), from Old English wille (infinitive wyllan); akin to Old High German wili (3d singular present indicative) wills, Latin velle to wish, will

First Known Use: before 12th century

Rhymes with WILL

bill, brill, chill, dill, drill, fill, frill, gill, grill, grille, hill, ill, kill, krill, mil, mill, mille, nil, nill, Phil, pill, prill, quill, rill, shill, shrill, sill, skill, spill, squill, still, swill, thill, thrill, til, till, trill, twill, vill

²will

noun \ˈwil\

Definition of WILL

1

: desire, wish: as

a : disposition, inclination <where there's a will there's a way>

b : appetite, passion

c : choice, determination

2

a : something desired; especially : a choice or determination of one having authority or power

b (1) archaic : request, command (2) [from the phrase our will is which introduces it] : the part of a summons expressing a royal command

3

: the act, process, or experience of willing : volition

4

a : mental powers manifested as wishing, choosing, desiring, or intending

b : a disposition to act according to principles or ends

c : the collective desire of a group <the will of the people>

5

: the power of control over one's own actions or emotions <a man of iron will>

6

: a legal declaration of a person's wishes regarding the disposal of his or her property or estate after death; especially : a written instrument legally executed by which a person makes disposition of his or her estate to take effect after death

— at will

: as one wishes : as or when it pleases or suits oneself

Examples of WILL

1. In her will, she asked that her money be donated to the church.
2. He made a will only days before his death.
3. He has no will of his own.
4. a government that reflects the will of the people

Origin of WILL

Middle English, from Old English willa will, desire; akin to Old English wille

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WILL

Synonyms

continence, restraint, self-command, self-containment, self-control, self-discipline, self-government, self-mastery, self-possession, self-restraint, willpower

Related Words

self-abnegation, self-denial, self-deprivation; moderateness, moderation, temperance, temperateness; determination, nerve; command, control, discipline, mastery; abnegation, abstention, avoidance, eschewal, forbearance; abstinence, soberness, sobriety; aplomb, assurance, composure, confidence, coolness, equanimity, poise, self-confidence; discretion

Near Antonyms

gratification, indulgence, self-indulgence; excessiveness, immoderacy, intemperance, intemperateness, overindulgence; demerit, failing, fault, feebleness, foible, frailty, shortcoming, vice, weakness; indiscipline, unconstraint, unreserve, unreservedness, unrestraint

³will

verb \ˈwil\

Definition of WILL

transitive verb

1

a : to order or direct by a will <willed that her property be divided among her children>

b : to dispose of by or as if by a will : bequeath <willed his entire estate to this wife>

2

a : to determine by an act of choice

b : decree, ordain <Providence wills it>

c : intend, purpose

d : to cause or change by an act of will <believed he could will himself to succeed>; also : to try to do so

intransitive verb

1

: to exercise the will

2

: choose <do as you will>

First Known Use of WILL

before 12th century

will

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

In law, a formal declaration, usually in the form of an executed document, of a person's wishes regarding the disposal of his or her property after death. It is valid if it meets the formalities of the law, which usually requires that it be witnessed. It may be considered invalid if, among other instances, the testator was mentally incapable of disposing of his or her property, if it imposes unreasonable or cruel demands as a condition of inheritance, or if the testator did not have clear title to the bequeathed assets. Any party who contests a will must bring the claim within a time specified by statute and must bear the burden of proof in demonstrating that the will is faulty. See also probate.