willing

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

Synonyms

• amenable
• disposed
• fain
• game
• glad
• inclined
• minded
• ready

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

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Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing willing

• show willing
• the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
• God willing

• show willing
• the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
• God willing

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