will

[ wil ]

/ wɪl /

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auxiliary verb, present singular 1st person will,2nd will or (Archaic) wilt,3rd will,present plural will;past singular 1st person would,2nd would or (Archaic) wouldst,3rd would,past plural would;past participle (Obsolete) wold or would;imperative, infinitive, and present participle lacking.

am (is, are, etc.) about or going to: I will be there tomorrow. She will see you at dinner.

am (is, are, etc.) disposed or willing to: People will do right.

am (is, are, etc.) expected or required to: You will report to the principal at once.

may be expected or supposed to: You will not have forgotten him. This will be right.

am (is, are, etc.) determined or sure to (used emphatically): You would do it. People will talk.

am (is, are, etc.) accustomed to, or do usually or often: You will often see her sitting there. He would write for hours at a time.

am (is, are, etc.) habitually disposed or inclined to: Boys will be boys. After dinner they would read aloud.

am (is, are, etc.) capable of; can: This tree will live without water for three months.

am (is, are, etc.) going to: I will bid you “Good night.”

verb (used with or without object), present singular 1st person will,2nd will or (Archaic) wilt,3rd will,present plural will;past singular 1st person would,2nd would or (Archaic) wouldst,3rd would,past plural would;past participle (Obsolete) wold or would;imperative, infinitive, and present participle lacking.

to wish; desire; like: Go where you will.Ask, if you will, who the owner is.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of will

First recorded before 900; Middle English willen, Old English wyllan; cognate with Dutch willen, German wollen, Old Norse vilja, Gothic wiljan; akin to Latin velle “to wish”

words often confused with will

See shall.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH will

1. shall, will 2. will , would

Words nearby will

Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes Land, Wilkins, Wilkinsburg, Wilkinson, will, Willa, willable, Willaert, Willamette, Willard

Other definitions for will (2 of 3)

will²

[ wil ]

/ wɪl /

noun

the faculty of conscious and deliberate action; the power of control the mind has over one's actions: The teacher has chosen by her own will to create a whole new curriculum.

power in choosing one's own actions: A major factor in success is whether you have have a strong or a weak will.

the act or process of using or asserting one's choice; volition: My hands are obedient to my will.

wish or desire: We submit, but it's against our will.

purpose or determination that is often hearty or stubborn; willfulness: The first step is to have the will to succeed.

the wish or purpose as carried out, or to be carried out: The queen will work her will.

disposition, whether good or ill, toward another.

Law.

a legal declaration of a person's wishes as to the disposition of their property or estate after death, usually written and signed by the testator and attested by witnesses.
the document containing a declaration of a person's wishes as to the disposition of their property.

verb (used with object), willed, will·ing.

to decide, bring about, or attempt to effect or bring about by an act of the will: He can make it in this industry if he wills it.

to purpose, determine on, or elect, by an act of the mind or consciousness: If he wills success, he can find it.

to give or dispose of (property) by a legal declaration or testament; bequeath or devise.

to influence by exerting control over someone's impulses and actions: She was willed to walk the tightrope by the hypnotist.

verb (used without object), willed, will·ing.

to exercise the mind or conciousness: To will is not enough, one must do.

to decide or determine: Others debate, but the king wills.

OTHER WORDS FOR will

3 choice.

4 pleasure, disposition, inclination.

5 resolution.

9 determine.

11 leave.

See synonyms for will on Thesaurus.com

Origin of will

First recorded before 900; Middle English noun wil(le), Old English wil(l) “will, pleasure,” will(a) “faculty of willing, determination”; cognate with Dutch wil, German Wille, Old Norse vili, Gothic wilja; verb derivative of the noun; akin to will¹

synonym study for will

5. Will, volition refer to conscious choice as to action or thought. Will denotes fixed and persistent intent or purpose: Where there's a will there's a way. Volition is the power of forming an intention or the incentive for using the will: to exercise one's volition in making a decision.

OTHER WORDS FROM will

willer, noun

Other definitions for will (3 of 3)

Will

[ wil ]

/ wɪl /

noun

a male given name, form of William.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use will in a sentence

This episode was reported by Jennifer Strong and Will Douglas Heaven and produced by Anthony Green, Emma Cillekens and Karen Hao.
Podcast: How games teach AI to learn for itself|Anthony Green|September 29, 2021|MIT Technology Review
Elliott’s office has previously avoided weighing in but has acknowledged Will’s argument was on its radar.
There’s Yet Another Wrench in the Effort to Declare Measure C Passed|Lisa Halverstadt|April 29, 2021|Voice of San Diego
His memoir, titled “Will,” is a grandiose and gripping self-mythology of surmounting fear through recklessness.
Little Liddys everywhere: The legacy of a political ‘super-klutz’|Dan Zak|March 31, 2021|Washington Post
I collected Ali and Mac and drove our happy trio to a porch concert by Will Dickerson, Ana de Ferreira and Will’s dad.
Was a three-week trip to New Orleans for work or vacation? Both.|Andrea Sachs|February 19, 2021|Washington Post

“There really isn’t one thing” that caused all those different insect shapes to evolve, says Will.
Explainer: Insects, arachnids and other arthropods|Curtis Segarra|January 19, 2021|Science News For Students
And more I cannot explain/but you, from what I did not say/will infer what I do not say.
Sor Juana: Mexico’s Most Erotic Poet and Its Most Dangerous Nun|Katie Baker|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Behind that coming-of-age innocence and strong-will of Swift is an intense artistic decision.
Taylor Swift Dumps Spotify, Igniting Turf War Between Spotify and Apple|Dale Eisinger|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Kerry tweeted August 20 that “ISIL must be destroyed/will be crushed.”
After Steven Sotloff Murder, Congress Demands a Vote on Obama’s ISIS War|Josh Rogin|September 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Oh does she deserve this nomination, and maybe even this award with her stellar aftermath-of-Will grief work.
What's TV's Best Drama? 'True Detective,' 'Game of Thrones,' and Our Emmy Predictions|Kevin Fallon|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When I get older losing my hair/Many years from now/Will you still be sending me a valentine/Birthday greetings, bottle of wine?
Bruce Springsteen’s Bond Moment: The Boss’ Body Beautiful at 64|Tim Teeman|July 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And with some expressions of mutual good-will and interest, master and man separated.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens
Sleek finds it far harder work than fortune-making; but he pursues his Will-o'-the-Wisp with untiring energy.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
For this use of the voice in the special service of will-power, or propelling force, it is necessary first to test its freedom.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
The Marshals were inclined to attribute their disgrace to the ill-will of Berthier and not to the temper of Napoleon.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Gilbert was one of those petted individuals who carry the good-will of others by storm.
The World Before Them|Susanna Moodie

British Dictionary definitions for will (1 of 2)

will¹

/ (wɪl) /

verb past would (takes an infinitive without to or an implied infinitive)

(esp with you, he, she, it, they, or a noun as subject) used as an auxiliary to make the future tenseCompare shall (def. 1)

used as an auxiliary to express resolution on the part of the speakerI will buy that radio if it's the last thing I do

used as an auxiliary to indicate willingness or desirewill you help me with this problem?

used as an auxiliary to express compulsion, as in commandsyou will report your findings to me tomorrow

used as an auxiliary to express capacity or abilitythis rope will support a load

used as an auxiliary to express probability or expectation on the part of the speakerthat will be Jim telephoning

used as an auxiliary to express customary practice or inevitabilityboys will be boys

(with the infinitive always implied) used as an auxiliary to express desire: usually in polite requestsstay if you will

what you will whatever you like

will do informal a declaration of willingness to do what is requested

Word Origin for will

Old English willan; related to Old Saxon willian, Old Norse vilja, Old High German wollen, Latin velle to wish, will

undefined will

See shall

British Dictionary definitions for will (2 of 2)

will²

/ (wɪl) /

noun

the faculty of conscious and deliberate choice of action; volitionRelated adjectives: voluntary, volitive

the act or an instance of asserting a choice

the declaration of a person's wishes regarding the disposal of his or her property after deathRelated adjective: testamentary
a revocable instrument by which such wishes are expressed

anything decided upon or chosen, esp by a person in authority; desire; wish

determined intentionwhere there's a will there's a way

disposition or attitude towards othershe bears you no ill will

at will at one's own desire, inclination, or choice

with a will heartily; energetically

with the best will in the world even with the best of intentions

verb (mainly tr; often takes a clause as object or an infinitive)

(also intr) to exercise the faculty of volition in an attempt to accomplish (something)he willed his wife's recovery from her illness

to give (property) by will to a person, society, etche willed his art collection to the nation

(also intr) to order or decreethe king wills that you shall die

to choose or preferwander where you will

to yearn for or desireto will that one's friends be happy

Derived forms of will

willer, noun

Word Origin for will

Old English willa; related to Old Norse vili, Old High German willeo (German Wille), Gothic wilja, Old Slavonic volja

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with will

will

In addition to the idiom beginning with will

will not hear of

also see:

against one's will
at will
boys will be boys
heads (will) roll
murder will out
of one's own accord (free will)
shit will hit the fan
that will do
time will tell
truth will out
when the cat's away, mice will play
where there's a will
with a will
with the best will in the world
wonders will never cease

will

Origin of will

words often confused with will

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH will

Words nearby will

Other definitions for will (2 of 3)

OTHER WORDS FOR will

Origin of will

synonym study for will

OTHER WORDS FROM will

Other definitions for will (3 of 3)

Words related to will

How to use will in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for will (1 of 2)

Word Origin for will

undefined will

British Dictionary definitions for will (2 of 2)

Derived forms of will

Word Origin for will

Other Idioms and Phrases with will