lief

American  

[leef] / lif /

adverb

1. gladly; willingly.

   I would as lief go south as not.

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adjective

Archaic.

1. willing; desirous.

2. dear; beloved; treasured.

lief British  

/ liːf /

adverb

1. rare gladly; willingly

   I'd as lief go today as tomorrow

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adjective

1. archaic

   1. ready; glad

   2. dear; beloved

Other Word Forms

• liefly adverb

Etymology

Origin of lief

First recorded before 900; Middle English leef, Old English lēof; cognate with Dutch lief, German lieb, Old Norse ljufr, Gothic liufs; akin to love

Example Sentences

You don’t get anywhere in lief without a bit of pain sometimes.

From The Guardian • Sep. 7, 2015

You don’t get anywhere in lief without a bit of pain sometimes.

From The Guardian • Sep. 7, 2015

What opposition there was came from literal-minded gentlemen who could not find the word "food"' in the re lief bills.

From Time Magazine Archive

In perfect fairness I would say to the Senator I would just as lief Willkie should be on the committee as the Senator from New Hampshire.

From Time Magazine Archive

Want so lief het God die wêreld gehad, dat Hy sy eniggebore Seun gegee het, sodat elkeen wat in Hom glo, nie verlore mag gaan nie, maar die ewige lewe kan hê.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver