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
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Recent Examples of willing
Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
More than two-thirds of her school’s students come from low-income families, and many aren’t willing to take on the level of debt that past generations accepted.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 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
Helfrich, Batson and Parlow Cone all think there’s a good chance the NCAA, as well as conferences large and small, will be willing to try something new—something that might be a template for other Olympic sports.
—Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
More than two-thirds of her school’s students come from low-income families, and many aren’t willing to take on the level of debt that past generations accepted.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 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
-
The line occurs when the film’s protagonist, Ripley (Weaver), emerges from an elevator in a giant metal bodysuit, ready to fight a terrifying alien to save a young child.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
-
At this point, players are ready to start making picks on the NFL, NHL, NBA or any other sport this weekend.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
His positioning and reading of the game remain sharp, his footwork is clean, and his reactions are quick.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Wetkiss Knee-High Boots Lorelai's shoe collection is as memorable as her quick wit, and nothing says cool-weather quite like a pair of boots.—
Toni Sutton,
PEOPLE,
15 Oct. 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
-
Eleven of 19 batters struck out against Glasnow and hard-throwing Milwaukee rookie Jacob Misiorowski in the third, fourth and fifth innings with just one baserunner (on a walk), leaving the game locked in a 1-1 tie until the Dodgers put something together in the sixth.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
17 Oct. 2025
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And then the project fell apart, leaving Shackleton with fragments of the unfinished film and time to ruminate on shortcuts and signifiers of the ubiquitous genre.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Johnston said the inspiration behind the plot point came from wanting to address the feeling that, since the original book was published, the world has gotten meaner and crueler.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
17 Oct. 2025
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When the situation starts to look futile, the politicians begin fleeing the airport like rats on a sinking ship, not wanting to be the one left holding the bag.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Marginson says that while many students and faculty have opposed the compact, university presidents and boards may be more inclined to accept.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
14 Oct. 2025
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While Alex is still young at 24 and has room to develop, this move could make Giannis more comfortable and inclined to stay in Milwaukee, at least for the foreseeable future.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Pacific Coast Producers, based in California, issued a voluntary recall for select lots of four fruit products on September 4 due to the potential contamination.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Admission is free, but voluntary donations are appreciated.—
Molly Guthrey,
Twin Cities,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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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 19 Oct. 2025.
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