Definition of will
(Entry 1 of 3)
1
—used to express futurity tomorrow morning I will wake up in this first-class hotel suite— Tennessee Williams
2
—used to express desire, choice, willingness, consent, or in negative constructions refusal no one would take the jobif we will all do our bestwill you please stop that racket
3
—used to express a command, exhortation, or injunction you will do as I say, at once
4
—used to express frequent, customary, or habitual action or natural tendency or disposition will get angry over nothingwill work one day and loaf the next
5
—used to express probability and often equivalent to the simple verb that will be the babysitter
6a
—used to express inevitability accidents will happen
b
—used to express determination, insistence, persistence, or willfulness I have made up my mind to go and go I will
7
—used to express capability or sufficiency the back seat will hold three passengers
: to have a wish or desire
whether we will or no
if you will
: if you wish to call it that
a kind of preoccupation, or obsession if you will— Louis Auchincloss
will
nounDefinition of will (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: 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
4a
: 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
at will
: as one wishes : as or when it pleases or suits oneself
will
verb (2)
willed; willing; wills
Definition of will (Entry 3 of 3)
1a
: to cause or change by an act of will
believed he could will himself to succeed
also
: to try to do so
d
: to determine by an act of choice
2a
: to dispose of by or as if by a will : bequeath
willed his entire estate to his son
b
: to order or direct by a will
willed that her property be divided among her children
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Time Traveler for will
The first known use of will was before the 12th century
See more words from the same century