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Willard

American  
[wil-erd] / ˈwɪl ərd /

noun

  1. Emma (Hart), 1787–1870, U.S. educator and poet.

  2. Frances Elizabeth Caroline, 1839–98, U.S. educator, reformer, and author.

  3. Jess, 1883–1968, U.S. boxer: world heavyweight champion 1915–19.

  4. a male given name: from Germanic words meaning “hardy” and “will.”


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.

Toure's kick was saved by Zambia goalkeeper Willard Mwanza after Banda had been penalised following a VAR check for catching Nene Dorgeles in the box.

From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025

In more recent decades, the “Scream” franchise and Jordan Peele’s projects owe a considerable debt to the tone set by Willard and Leni.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

As children streamed into Willard ahead of the 7:50 a.m. start of classes, parents milled around the entrance, which is framed by two rows of palm trees.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 23, 2025

It’s natural to view the temporary mixing of Willard R. Abbott’s earnest teachers with the scuzzy simpletons who barely run the worst bar in America as, um, entirely unnatural.

From Salon • Jan. 8, 2025

The farthest Buddy Willard ever went was buying us a bottle of Dubonnet, which he only did because he was trying to prove he could be aesthetic in spite of being a medical student.

From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath

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