1
as in ready
having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action)
I'm a little confused, but perfectly willing to do as you ask
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in quick
having or showing the ability to respond without delay or hesitation
she's always lent a willing hand whenever a neighbor needed help or a friend a favor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in volunteer
done, made, or given with one's own free will
a willing sacrifice of her limited free time for a good cause
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in leaving
to give by means of a will
willed their house to their adult children
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in wanting
to see fit
do as you will—I wash my hands of the whole affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of willing
Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
How much the Cubs are willing to spend in free agency this winter is unknown, but the organization is all-in on trying to build a winning roster.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Chase Daniel joins Dan Patrick to discuss Arch Manning struggling, Caleb Williams trying to do too much, Dak Prescott willing his team to victory in Week 2, Patrick Mahomes needing more help from his teammates and more.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for willing
Adjective
Administration officials say the task force will shift operations ashore because traffickers are now less willing to risk voyages that can be detected and targeted at sea.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2025
How much the Cubs are willing to spend in free agency this winter is unknown, but the organization is all-in on trying to build a winning roster.
—Drew Vonscio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones continued his hot start to the 2025 season in relief of Brock Purdy on Thursday night, willing his team to a 26-23 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Chase Daniel joins Dan Patrick to discuss Arch Manning struggling, Caleb Williams trying to do too much, Dak Prescott willing his team to victory in Week 2, Patrick Mahomes needing more help from his teammates and more.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 21 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for willing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for willing
Adjective
-
This follows after Norton officially confirmed four new models ready to be revealed at next month’s EICMA in Milan.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
25 Oct. 2025
-
With a full offseason of conditioning, the twin of Houston’s Amen Thompson should be ready to emerge the way his brother did a year ago.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Green was quick to point out that every team that has won a championship featured a strong defense.—
Jordy Fee-Platt,
New York Times,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Within the past couple of years, the group has become a part of Arrowhead Kingdom, an all-volunteer national network of Chiefs fan groups.—
Hannah Kirby,
Journal Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2023
-
That’s noteworthy for a show based at a high-school auditorium in Litchfield and run by a staff that is almost entirely volunteer, including the show’s star and its producer.—
Susan Dunne,
Hartford Courant,
18 Aug. 2022
Verb
-
Maza, already a full Algeria international at 19, was scouted by several Premier League clubs before leaving second-tier Hertha Berlin.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
-
At the same time, leaving grass too long over the winter can shade the soil and weaken the grass.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
However, Fugarino said the event and the effort is not exclusive to people of faith but is open to anyone wanting to work in support of social and racial justice in Kansas City.—
Mara Williams,
Kansas City Star,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Everybody Scream came out of wanting to go deeper into magic and mysticism.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The new rule stipulates that pillows must be firm enough to prevent suffocation and flat enough to prevent the baby’s head and neck from going into an inclined position.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Her parents were originally inclined to give her a name whose popularity was heavily influenced by another NBC show.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The Medicare prescription drug plan, known as Part D, is completely voluntary.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
4 Nov. 2025
-
More than 1% of Americans headed west in one of the largest voluntary mass migrations in human history.—
Trevor Hughes,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Effectively, Newsom’s slow roll protects him from taking any meaningful actions, thus bequeathing reparations to his successor, like his many other unresolved California issues.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Rewriting society’s decision-making Unlike biased pundits who hem, haw and hedge their bets, Web3 prediction markets cut through noise, bequeathing a signal that feeds into pricing mechanisms themselves.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Willing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willing. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share