will

verb (1)

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\ wəl, (ə)l, ᵊl, ˈwil

past would\ wəd , (ə)d , ˈwu̇d

\; present singular and plural will

Definition of will

(Entry 1 of 3)

auxiliary verb

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

transitive verb

: desire, wish call it what you will

intransitive verb

: 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

noun

\ ˈwil

Definition 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

2 : desire, wish: such as

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

b : appetite, passion

c : choice, determination

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

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

6a : something desired especially : a choice or determination of one having authority or power

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

(2) archaic : request, command

at will

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

will

verb (2)

\ ˈwil

willed; willing; wills

Definition of will (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : to cause or change by an act of will believed he could will himself to succeed also : to try to do so

b : intend, purpose

c : decree, ordain Providence wills it

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

intransitive verb

1 : to exercise the will

2 : choose do as you will

Synonyms Shall vs. Will: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Phrases Containing will Learn More About will

Shall vs. Will: Usage Guide

Verb (1)

From the reams of pronouncements written about the distinction between shall and will—dating back as far as the 17th century—it is clear that the rules laid down have never very accurately reflected actual usage. The nationalistic statements of 18th and 19th century British grammarians, who commonly cited the misuses of the Irish, the Scots, and occasionally the Americans, suggest that the traditional rules may have come closest to the usage of southern England. Some modern commentators believe that English usage is still the closest to the traditionally prescribed norms. Most modern commentators allow that will is more common in nearly all uses. The entries for shall and will in this dictionary show current usage.

Examples of will in a Sentence

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

First Known Use of will

Verb (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2b

History and Etymology for will

Verb (1)

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

Noun

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

Learn More About will

Dictionary Entries Near will

Wilkinson

will

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Cite this Entry

“Will.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/will. Accessed 29 Jun. 2022.

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More Definitions for will

will

helping verb

\ wəl

, ˈwil \

past would\ wəd , ˈwu̇d \; present singular & plural will

Kids Definition of will

(Entry 1 of 3)

1 : wish to They will have milk.

2 : am, is, or are willing to I will go if you ask me.

3 : am, is, or are determined to We will go in spite of the storm.

4 : am, is, or are going to Everyone will be there.

5 : is or are commanded to You will obey.

6 : is or are able to The car will hold six people.

7 : is or are likely or bound to The truth will come out.

will

noun

\ ˈwil

Kids Definition of will (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : a firm desire or determination They have the will to win.

2 : the power to decide or control emotions or actions He quit smoking through his own will.

3 : a particular person's decision or choice It's the king's will that he be jailed.

4 : a legal paper in which a person states to whom his or her property is to be given after death

will

verb

\ ˈwil

willed; willing

Kids Definition of will (Entry 3 of 3)

1 : to intend or order It will happen if God wills it.

2 : to bring to a certain condition by the power of the will Jonas felt himself losing consciousness and with his whole being willed himself to stay upright …— Lois Lowry, The Giver

3 : to decide on by choice Go where you will.

4 : to leave by will They willed the house to me.

will

noun

Legal Definition of will

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the desire, inclination, or choice of a person or group

2 : the faculty of wishing, choosing, desiring, or intending

3 : a legal declaration of a person's wishes regarding the disposal of his or her property after death especially : a formally executed written instrument by which a person makes disposition of his or her estate to take effect after death — see also codicil, living will, testament

— antenuptial will

: a will that was executed by a person prior to that person's marriage and is usually revocable by the court if no provision was made for the person's spouse unless an intention not to make such a provision is manifest

— conditional will

: a will intended to take effect upon a certain contingency and usually construed as having absolute force when the language pertaining to the condition suggests a general purpose to make a will

— counter will

: mutual will in this entry

— holographic will

: a will written out in the hand of the testator and accepted as valid in many states provided it meets statutory requirements (as that no important parts have been altered or replaced in the hand of another and that it has been properly witnessed)

— international will

: a will written in any language and executed in accordance with procedures established as a result of an international convention so as to be valid as to form regardless of the location of its execution or the assets, nationality, domicile, or residence of the testator

Note: A properly executed international will is still subject to local probate laws; the validity deriving from adherence to statutory requirements for such wills is purely formal, and a will invalid in respect to such requirements may still be valid under other rules.

— joint and mutual will

: a single will jointly executed by two or more persons and containing reciprocal provisions for the disposition of property owned jointly, severally, or in common upon the death of one of them

— called also joint and reciprocal will

— joint will

: a single will jointly executed by two or more persons and containing their respective wills the execution of a joint will or mutual wills does not create a presumption of a contract not to revoke the will or wills — Maine Revised Statutes — compare joint and mutual will in this entry

Note: A joint and mutual will is a joint will, but a joint will need not contain reciprocal provisions.

— mutual will

: one of two separate wills that share reciprocal provisions for the disposition of property in the event of death by one of the parties a mutual will executed in connection with an agreement based on sufficient consideration is both contractual and testamentary in nature — Pruss v. Pruss, 514 N.W.2d 335 (1994)

— called also counter will, reciprocal will

— compare joint and mutual will in this entry

— mystic will

in the civil law of Louisiana : a will signed, sealed, witnessed, and notarized according to statutory procedure

— called also mystic testament, secret testament

Note: The Louisiana Civil Code requires that for a mystic will to be valid, the will document itself or the envelope containing it must be closed and sealed and thus presented to the notary public and witnesses, or closed and sealed in their presence, and the testator must declare that it contains his or her signed will. The envelope or closed document must be subscribed by the testator, witnesses, and notary public.

— nonintervention will \ ˌnän-ˌin-tər-ˈven-chən- \

: a will that provides for an executor to administer the estate without judicial involvement

— nuncupative will

: a will allowed in some states that is dictated orally before witnesses and set down in writing within a statutorily specified time period (as 30 days) and that is allowed only for one in imminent peril of death from a terminal illness or from military or maritime service

— pour-over will

: a will that provides for a transfer of assets (as the residue of the estate) to a trust (as an inter vivos trust) upon the death of the testator

— reciprocal will

: mutual will in this entry

at will

: subject to an individual's discretion specifically : without a requirement that the employer have just cause for terminating an employee could be discharged at will

will

transitive verb

Legal Definition of will (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to order or direct by will willed that his money be given to charity

2 : to dispose of by will willed the house to their children