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  • Where there's a will, there's a way
    Where there's a will, there's a way
    If you want something badly enough, you can find the means to get it.
  • where there's a will, there's a way
    where there's a will, there's a way
    If one really wants to do something, one can. For example, Max has no idea of how to get the money to repair his boat, but where there's a will. This proverb was stated slightly differently in 1640 (To him that will, ways are not wanting) but has been repeated in its present form since the early 1800s. It is so well known it is often shortened, as in the example.

Where there's a will, there's a way

Cultural  
  1. If you want something badly enough, you can find the means to get it.


where there's a will, there's a way Idioms  
  1. If one really wants to do something, one can. For example, Max has no idea of how to get the money to repair his boat, but where there's a will. This proverb was stated slightly differently in 1640 (To him that will, ways are not wanting) but has been repeated in its present form since the early 1800s. It is so well known it is often shortened, as in the example.


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.

See Examples For:

Where there’s a will, there’s a way to achieve far more successful recycling rates than the dismal performance in New York and most of the country.

From New York Times Apr. 14, 2010

Where there’s a will there’s a way, that’s one comfort; and, by my faith, what I’ve seen of some of those little rebel colonists, they are well worth winning.”

From Hurricane Hurry by William Henry Giles Kingston

Illustrating the saying, "Where there's a will there's a way," the good people opened the streets in the village, and a small congregation was brought together.

From Thirty Years in the Itinerancy by Wesson Gage Miller

"Where there's a will there's a way, George," said Paul.

From Paul the Peddler, or the Fortunes of a Young Street Merchant by Horatio Alger

"Where there's a will there's a way," is an old adage which few were more likely to carry out than Edward Armstrong.

From Englefield Grange or Mary Armstrong's Troubles by H. B. Paull

And where there’s a will, there’s a way.

From Slate Mar. 24, 2026

I’m just hoping where there’s a will, there’s a way.

From Salon Apr. 8, 2025

Indeed, where there’s a will, there’s a way.

From Los Angeles Times Jan. 15, 2025

He argued that all too often, promises made at global summits were not met, but he insisted that "where there's a will, there's a way".

From BBC Aug. 3, 2023

But Oliver contented himself with the assurance that where there's a will, there's a way.

From The Metropolis by Upton Sinclair

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