willing

1 of 2

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

willing

2 of 2

present participle of will entry 3

Synonyms of willing

Adjective

• 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

Adjective

He was a willing participant in the crime.

She's lending a willing hand.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

For Haines, getting something out of those exchanges requires being willing to genuinely listen rather than simply waiting for a chance to respond. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026

Taurus April 20 – May 20 Your mind may be willing to keep going long after the rest of you has checked out. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026

The record-breaking number here is coming from the secondary market, moving on its own, pricing in what people are actually willing to pay to be in the room. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026

Looking to the future, McKenna said those who are willing to take risks will be the ones who succeed. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 18 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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