willy-nilly
Americanadverb
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in a disorganized or unplanned manner; sloppily.
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whether one wishes to or not; willingly or unwillingly.
He'll have to do it willy-nilly.
adjective
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shilly-shallying; vacillating.
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disorganized, unplanned; sloppy.
willy-nilly work.
adverb
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whether desired or not
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haphazardly
adjective
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occurring or taking place whether desired or not
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occurring haphazardly
Etymology
Origin of willy-nilly
Explanation
Something that happens willy-nilly is random or haphazard. If you put your clothes away willy-nilly, it'll take forever to find two matching socks. This adverb is perfect for describing something done without any planning, like when the neighborhood kids grab instruments and parade willy-nilly up and down streets and through people's backyards. Willy-nilly comes from the obsolete phrase will I, nill I, or "I am willing, I am unwilling." The original definition, "whether one likes it or not," gradually evolved into today's meaning. Along the way, variations on willy-nilly included "nilly-willy," "willing, nilling," and "William nilliam."
Vocabulary lists containing willy-nilly
"To Build a Fire," Vocabulary from the short story
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Woodsong
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Byrd and Igloo: A Polar Adventure
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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.
Willy nilly, madam, as the thief came to the gallows.
From The Battle of Hexham; or, Days of Old; a play in three acts by Colman, George
Willy nilly, they seem to communicate an atmosphere of secret and wicked thoughts which makes those in their immediate neighbourhood shrink from them as from a thing diseased.
From The Empty House and Other Ghost Stories by Blackwood, Algernon
Willy, nilly, so long as we live we must bear the responsibility of taking a part for or against the progress and welfare of the world.
From A Review of the Systems of Ethics Founded on the Theory of Evolution by Williams, C. M.
Willy nilly, in excess of friendliness, he had her into his limousine beside him and went three-quarters of an hour out of his way and time personally to conduct her to her destination.
From On the Makaloa Mat by London, Jack
Willy nilly I must keep you for to-day, since I have a little journey to take and I cannot leave the shop untended.
From Lawrence Clavering by Mason, A. E. W. (Alfred Edward Woodley)
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.
