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 of willing

• 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

He was a willing participant in the crime.

She's lending a willing hand.

Recent Examples on the Web

Any number of other Knicks played the hero, willing the team to a gutsy victory, showing sudden grit after so many easy blowouts. —Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 10 May 2026

Russia is still the only partner willing to deploy combat forces directly into frontline operations – a critical factor for regimes battling insurgencies – which ties Mali to Moscow, Laessing remarked. —Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 10 May 2026

For those willing to learn and put in the time, to offer a home for a homeless pig, Houk said, the joys can be great. —Kansas City Star, 10 May 2026

In a fragmented attention economy, the second model is becoming structurally more available — to creators, to indie SaaS, to vertical platforms, to anyone willing to be unfashionably specific. —Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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