Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

William

[wil-yuh m]
See more synonyms for William on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter W.
  2. a male given name: from Germanic words meaning “will” and “helmet.”
Show More

William I

noun
  1. the Conqueror, 1027–87, duke of Normandy 1035–87; king of England 1066–87 (son of Robert I, duke of Normandy).
  2. Also Willem I. William I of Orangethe Silent, 1533–84, Dutch leader, statesman, and revolutionary leader born in Germany: prince of Orange 1544–84; count of Nassau 1559–84; 1st stadholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands 1578–84.
  3. Also Wilhelm I. Wilhelm Friedrich Ludwig, 1797–1888, King of Prussia 1861–88; emperor of Germany 1871–88 (brother of Frederick William IV).
Show More

William II

noun
  1. William Rufusthe Red, 1056?–1100, King of England 1087–1100 (son of William I, duke of Normandy).
  2. Also Wilhelm II. Frederick Wilhelm Viktor Albert, 1859–1941, king of Prussia and emperor of Germany 1888–1918.
Show More

William III

noun
  1. William III of Orange, 1650–1702, stadholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands 1672–1702; king of England 1689–1702, joint ruler with his wife, Mary II.
Show More

William IV

noun
  1. the Sailor-King, 1765–1837, king of Great Britain and Ireland 1830–37 (brother of George IV).
Show More
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for william

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • You don't have to be Mr. William Wisenham to do business with him.

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • On the invasion of William, as we have seen, it was in the possession of Edwin, sovereign of Deira.

    The Grand Old Man

    Richard B. Cook

  • And so in fact, and yet all unconsciously, was Sir John doing for his son, William.

    The Grand Old Man

    Richard B. Cook

  • I'm William Pierce's, but that hasn't prevented my being myself.

  • Meantime, Sir William steers his course towards the town dock.

    Biographical Sketches

    Nathaniel Hawthorne

British Dictionary definitions for william

William

noun
  1. known as William the Lion. ?1143–1214, king of Scotland (1165–1214)
  2. Prince. born 1982, Duke of Cambridge, first son of Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales. In 2011 he married Kate Middleton (born 1982); their son, Prince George, was born in 2013
Show More

William III

noun
  1. known as William of Orange. 1650–1702, stadholder of the Netherlands (1672–1702) and king of Great Britain and Ireland (1689–1702). He was invited by opponents of James II to accept the British throne (1688) and ruled jointly with his wife Mary II (James' daughter) until her death in 1694
Show More

William IV

noun
  1. known as the Sailor King. 1765–1837, king of the United Kingdom and of Hanover (1830–37), succeeding his brother George IV; the third son of George III
Show More

William II

noun
  1. known as William Rufus. ?1056–1100, king of England (1087–1100); the son of William the Conqueror. He was killed by an arrow while hunting in the New Forest
  2. known as William the Good . 1154–89, last Norman king of Sicily (1166–89)
  3. 1792–1849, king of the Netherlands (1840–49); son of William I
  4. German name Kaiser Wilhelm. 1859–1941, German emperor and king of Prussia (1888–1918): asserted Germany's claim to world leadership; forced to abdicate at the end of World War I
Show More

William I

noun
  1. known as William the Conqueror. ?1027–1087, duke of Normandy (1035–87) and king of England (1066–87). He claimed to have been promised the English crown by Edward the Confessor, after whose death he disputed the succession of Harold II, invading England in 1066 and defeating Harold at Hastings. The conquest of England resulted in the introduction to England of many Norman customs, esp feudalism. In 1085 he ordered the Domesday Book to be compiled
  2. known as William the Bad . 1120–66, Norman king of Sicily (1154–66)
  3. known as William the Silent. 1533–84, prince of Orange and count of Nassau: led the revolt of the Netherlands against Spain (1568–76) and became first stadholder of the United Provinces of the Netherlands (1579–84); assassinated
  4. 1772–1843, king of the Netherlands (1815–40): abdicated in favour of his son William II
  5. German name Wilhelm I. 1797–1888, king of Prussia (1861–88) and first emperor of Germany (1871–88)
Show More
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

Word Origin and History for william

William

masc. proper name, from Old North French Willaume, Norman form of French Guillaume, of Germanic origin (cf. Old High German Willahelm), from willio "will" + helma "helmet." After the Conquest, the most popular given name in England until supplanted by John.

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper