willing

adjective

will·​ing ˈwi-liŋ 

1

: inclined or favorably disposed in mind : ready

willing and eager to help

2

: prompt to act or respond

lending a willing hand

3

: done, borne, or accepted by choice or without reluctance

a willing sacrifice

4

: of or relating to the will or power of choosing : volitional

willingly

ˈwi-liŋ-lē 

adverb

willingness noun

Synonyms

• ready
• inclined
• glad

Choose the Right Synonym for willing

voluntary, intentional, deliberate, willing mean done or brought about of one's own will.

voluntary implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion.

a voluntary confession

intentional stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved.

the intentional concealment of vital information

deliberate implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences.

deliberate acts of sabotage

willing implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another.

willing obedience

Examples of willing in a Sentence

He was a willing participant in the crime.

She's lending a willing hand.

Recent Examples on the Web

Many of those willing to speak out among the two dozen physicians who double as lawmakers declined to endorse unproven health advice on Tylenol usage that has been panned by other medical professionals as dangerous. —Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2025

Now, high-end brands are testing whether Labubu fans are willing to pay luxury price points. —Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2025

Mackay didn’t want to relive that incident, but was willing to talk about the Ryder Cup that best informs what awaits the Europeans this week — Brookline in 1999. —Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025

Unfortunately for him, the G-Unit leader wasn’t willing to let things go and doubled down on his disdain for the 54-year-old filmmaker. —Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 23 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing willing

• God willing
• show willing
• the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

Rhymes for willing

• billing
• chilling
• drilling
• filling
• grilling
• killing
• milling
• pilling
• rilling
• schilling
• shilling
• skilling

Kids Definition

willing

adjective

will·​ing ˈwil-iŋ 

1

: feeling no objection : ready

willing to go

2

: prompt to act or respond

willing workers

3

: done, made, or given by choice

a willing sacrifice

willingly adverb

willingness noun