willing
Americanadjective
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disposed or consenting; inclined.
willing to go along.
- Synonyms:
- minded
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cheerfully consenting or ready.
a willing worker.
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done, given, borne, used, etc., with cheerful readiness.
adjective
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favourably disposed or inclined; ready
-
cheerfully or eagerly compliant
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done, given, accepted, etc, freely or voluntarily
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of willing
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; see will 2, -ing 2
Explanation
If you're willing to do something, you're agreeable or ready. A willing participant in your play is someone who won't have to be coerced into taking part, but is happy to join you on stage. Imagine that your neighbor asks whether you're willing to feed her cat while she's out of town. If you're open to helping her, perhaps even enthusiastic about spending time with a friendly cat, you're willing. Someone who's not willing would have to be persuaded or forced to do it. You can also use this adjective to mean "readily or enthusiastically done," as in the willing support you offer your best friend when she runs for class president.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Dimon said in a memo to employees announcing Bisignano’s departure in 2013 that he was a “capable executive willing to take on the most complex challenges and get the job done.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
The 24-year-old says there have been plenty of "uneasy" days when his investments plunged by as much as 10%, but he is willing to take his chances.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
Would they be willing to subsidize some of your lifestyle while you adjust to your new financial reality?
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 20, 2026
Too often, soccer institutions seem willing to tolerate serious allegations when the player in question remains valuable on the field.
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026
Once that happened, no one would be willing to sell insurance on subprime mortgage bonds.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
