willing

adjective will·ing \ ˈwi-liŋ \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: willing in a Sentence

Definition of willing

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

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willingly

play \ˈwi-liŋ-lē\ adverb

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willingness

noun

See willing defined for English-language learners

See willing defined for kids

Examples of willing in a Sentence

He was a willing participant in the crime.
She's lending a willing hand.

Recent Examples of willing from the Web

In negotiations, insurance lobbyists were willing to pay up to 25 percent of contents coverage without an inventory, and the chairman of the Senate Insurance Committee suggested 50 percent, McGuire said.

— kathleen pender, San Francisco Chronicle, "California bills to boost homeowners insurance after wildfires wither," 9 June 2018
Thankfully, my current manager was willing to write me a strong letter of recommendation.

— lindsey lanquist, SELF, "6 Women Share Their Real-Life Salary Negotiation Experiences," 8 June 2018
Goalie Marquez, the lacrosse team's goalie, was a four-year member of the Lady Golden Tornadoes swim team and was willing to dive into the new challenge when her classmates recruited her.

— emmett hall, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Golden Tornadoes squads enjoy inaugural high school lacrosse season," 3 June 2018
And the third peril, which is perhaps the most dangerous of all, is that the sale price will undermine the regular price by forever lowering expectations about how much customers are willing to pay.

— adam snitzer, miamiherald, "Marketers: Beware the perils of in-store promotions," 3 June 2018
People are willing to pay for high production values, compelling storylines, and whatever sates their fetishes.

— susannah breslin, The Atlantic, "Porn’s Uncanny Valley," 1 June 2018
So while consumers love the convenience that connectivity offers and are willing to pay more for enhanced technology, connectivity has a price.

— phoebe wall howard, USA TODAY, "Storing car keys inside a metal coffee can thwarts hack attacks," 1 June 2018
So while consumers love the convenience that connectivity offers and are willing to pay more for enhanced technology, connectivity has a price.

— phoebe wall howard, Detroit Free Press, "Why you should keep your car keys in a metal coffee can," 30 May 2018
But hardcore fans know better — at least, the ones who have been willing to dive into the in-world websites, chatbots, and email blasts that serve as the show’s viral marketing campaign.

— bryan bishop, The Verge, "Westworld’s digital marketing is giving fans sneak peeks at the show’s biggest secrets," 24 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'willing.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of willing

14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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willing Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of 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

WILLING Defined for English Language Learners

willing

adjective

Definition of willing for English Language Learners

: not refusing to do something
: quick to act or respond : doing something or ready to do something without being persuaded
: done, made, or given by choice