willing

adjective

will·​ing ˈwi-liŋ How to pronounce willing (audio)
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 adverb
willingness noun
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 Addiction, by its very nature, blocks one’s ability to be honest with themselves and others, be consistent, deliver on promises, be emotionally generous and considerate of another person’s needs, be accountable when wrong, and show up every day willing to work at a relationship. Shon Faye, Vogue, 24 Nov. 2023 The list of Palestinian prisoners Israel is willing to release in the swap consists mostly of male teenagers arrested in the past two years, with the youngest aged 14. Sammy westfall, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2023 Buck, of course, are more than willing to service these late-cycling does. Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 22 Nov. 2023 Perhaps there is an academic researcher somewhere willing to explore this fascinating question of nature vs. nurture. James Freeman, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023 Similarly, while most people want waterproof snow boots, those that prioritize breathability and lightness — thru-hikers, for example — may be willing to sacrifice this feature. Jessica MacDonald, Travel + Leisure, 21 Nov. 2023 Amazon says that demand for talent for AI jobs is increasing, and companies are willing to pay higher salaries for those with the skills, but the courses are also geared toward promoting Amazon’s own AI products. Umar Shakir, The Verge, 20 Nov. 2023 Kilik has also been willing to stand out from the crowd in his faith in the future of brick-and-mortar cinemas and the value of the genuine onscreen experience. Will Tizard, Variety, 19 Nov. 2023 For those who are looking for something really special and willing to spend a bit more, there’s a beautiful cast iron oven from Le Creuset. Jessica Leigh Mattern, Peoplemag, 19 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'willing.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of willing was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near willing

Cite this Entry

“Willing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/willing. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

willing

adjective
will·​ing ˈwil-iŋ How to pronounce willing (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on willing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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