willingly

[wil-ing-lee]

adverb

1. in a consenting and often cheerful way.

   They volunteer for duty on faraway battlefields, willingly putting their lives on the line to fight and possibly die for their country.

Other Word Forms

• overwillingly adverb
• prewillingly adverb
• quasi-willingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of willingly¹

First recorded before 900; equivalent to willing ( def. ) + -ly ( def. )

Example Sentences

Of course, some universities will sign it willingly.

From Los Angeles Times

"You willingly and without any excuse chose to ignore the laws of the road."

From BBC

So, why then do so some folks willingly crave foods that make their mouths pucker and tongues tingle?

From Salon

“I feel kind of defensive right now, more so a test of my character, like I’m going to willingly do that,” Trammell said.

From Los Angeles Times

Like Peer Gynt in search of a greater truth, Oliphant willingly pitted himself against larger-than-life beasts and lived to tell the tale.

From Salon

Related Words

• cheerfully www.thesaurus.com
• freely 
• readily 
• voluntarily