voluntarily
Americanadverb
-
of one’s own accord or by free choice.
Students were mostly attending the sessions voluntarily, so they were reasonably well-behaved.
-
by volunteers, or in a way that depends on voluntary action.
The Political Science Club is a politically neutral and voluntarily operated nonprofit organization.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of voluntarily
Explanation
Use the adverb voluntarily to describe something you do willingly. For example, you might voluntarily stay home and babysit your little brother if the alternative is a trip to the grocery store. People do things voluntarily when they are completely willing to do them, not forced or enticed by anyone else. Kids tend to eat candy voluntarily, ride their bikes with their friends voluntarily, and watch their favorite shows on TV voluntarily. It's easy to see the connection with the verb to volunteer, and both words are rooted in the Latin root voluntarius, "of one's free will."
Vocabulary lists containing voluntarily
Smile
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ly
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Chapter 8: Greek Civilization
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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.
After commanding the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, Washington voluntarily surrendered his military commission to Congress rather than retaining control of the army.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
Midwest Poultry Services voluntarily recalled the eggs over potential contamination with Salmonella Enteritidis on July 22.
From Barron's ● Aug. 14, 2026
Many large retailers and supermarkets had already voluntarily stopped selling the devices under a framework agreed in 2023 between fire chiefs and the British Retail Consortium.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Taylor Fresh had just last month voluntarily recalled imported contaminated lettuce from a grower in Central Mexico that was linked to a cyclosporiasis outbreak that affected 15 states and sicked tens of thousands of people.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
It’s the first time I have voluntarily touched him since the last arena.
From "Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins
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.
