willing

American  

[wil-ing] / ˈwɪl ɪŋ /

adjective

1. disposed or consenting; inclined.

   willing to go along.

   Synonyms:

   minded

2. cheerfully consenting or ready.

   a willing worker.

3. done, given, borne, used, etc., with cheerful readiness.

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willing British  

/ ˈwɪlɪŋ /

adjective

1. favourably disposed or inclined; ready

2. cheerfully or eagerly compliant

3. done, given, accepted, etc, freely or voluntarily

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willing Idioms  

1. see ready, willing, and able; spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

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Other Word Forms

• overwilling adjective
• prewilling adjective
• quasi-willing adjective
• willingly adverb
• willingness noun

Etymology

Origin of willing

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; will ², -ing ²

Example Sentences

Last month, she joked with Amy Poehler on her podcast that she will “gag down protein 70 times a day,” a commitment I’m not willing to make.

From The Wall Street Journal

This has resulted in some of their most sonically and visually impressive work — with styles and genres consistently shifting — but also asks the listener to be willing to evolve with them.

From Los Angeles Times

You might lose the stream of payments unless you are willing to refinance that customer at a lower rate when rates fall.

From The Wall Street Journal

But it is unclear if those men would be willing to give up their careers and freedom to continue the lineage.

From Barron's

Capron was “perfectly willing” for these witnesses to “say for themselves what their opinions are …” In other words, if ordinary readers didn’t believe, they should ask their more distinguished neighbors.

From Literature

Related Words

• active
• amenable
• eager
• enthusiastic
• happy
• inclined
• pleased
• prepared
• prone
• responsible