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

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

Secondly, oil price moves are so volatile that traders aren’t willing to place big bets in futures markets.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Ye’s accuser is also willing to disclose his identity, the filing said, under “an appropriate protective order,” though numerous outlets reported on the victim’s suspected identity around the original incident two years ago.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

My brothers and I are willing to split the cost of life insurance for her, if we can find a policy that would insure her.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

“They’re just moving through people until they find someone who’s willing to do exactly what they want,” Crosswell said.

From Salon • Apr. 14, 2026

Grandpa made everything sound so simple and I was feeling so good I would have been willing to try to make friends with a grizzly bear.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

Related Words

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