willing

will·ing | \ ˈwi-liŋ

How to pronounce willing (audio)

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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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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 While polls show that a majority of Americans aren’t willing to go quite that far, there’s a clear appetite for broader systemic reforms to American policing. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "America Has a Secret Police Problem," 27 June 2020 However, some supporters are not only willing to go to a rally but are waiting for the Trump campaign to announce when there will be a rally in their state. — Alexandra Lonas, Washington Examiner, "Trump supporters say they're not concerned about coronavirus at rallies," 26 June 2020 Some families are willing to take the risk with the pandemic to avoid potential issues with mental health. — oregonlive, "Let Them Play group holds rally in Portland park, pushing for return of youth sports," 25 June 2020 In general, a diversion is a form of a sentence where an offender is willing to take responsibility for charges but avoids conviction. — Erik S. Hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A South Milwaukee bar owner got his liquor license revoked for distributing drugs at his tavern, police say," 23 June 2020 But the case shows how far the company is willing to go to avoid having to give information to criminal defendants. — Gilad Edelman, Wired, "Facebook and Twitter Want to Keep the Justice System Stacked Against Defendants," 19 June 2020 The resulting fights seem set to test just how far Trump is willing to go to bend the power of the presidency towards his political interests as his re-election efforts founder. — Brian Bennett, Time, "Fearing Internal Dissent Ahead of the Election, Trump Expands His War on Washington," 18 June 2020 How far regulators are willing to go will depend on the public mood. — The Economist, "And on the second day... Can Amazon keep growing like a youthful startup?," 18 June 2020 President Emmanuel Macron of France is willing to go to Camp David if sanitary conditions allow for the meeting to be safe, an Elysee official said. — Joshua Gallu, Bloomberg.com, "Trump Says He May Reschedule G-7 Meeting for Camp David," 3 June 2020

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.

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Dictionary Entries near willing

will-in-the-wisp

Statistics for willing

Last Updated

1 Jul 2020

Cite this Entry

“Willing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/willing. Accessed 10 Jul. 2020.

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More Definitions for willing

willing

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of willing

: 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

See the full definition for willing in the English Language Learners Dictionary

willing

will·ing | \ ˈwi-liŋ

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Kids Definition of willing

1 : feeling no objection I'm willing to go.

2 : not slow or lazy She's a willing worker.

3 : made, done, or given by choice : voluntary a willing sacrifice

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