willing
Americanadjective
-
disposed or consenting; inclined.
willing to go along.
- Synonyms:
- minded
-
cheerfully consenting or ready.
a willing worker.
-
done, given, borne, used, etc., with cheerful readiness.
adjective
-
favourably disposed or inclined; ready
-
cheerfully or eagerly compliant
-
done, given, accepted, etc, freely or voluntarily
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of willing
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; see will 2, -ing 2
Explanation
If you're willing to do something, you're agreeable or ready. A willing participant in your play is someone who won't have to be coerced into taking part, but is happy to join you on stage. Imagine that your neighbor asks whether you're willing to feed her cat while she's out of town. If you're open to helping her, perhaps even enthusiastic about spending time with a friendly cat, you're willing. Someone who's not willing would have to be persuaded or forced to do it. You can also use this adjective to mean "readily or enthusiastically done," as in the willing support you offer your best friend when she runs for class president.
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.
The company said it has sought access to more capacity than “those partners were willing to provide” and they increasingly see it as a competitor, according to the prospectus.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
“It’s not a permanent opposition,” he says, “There’s enough overlap already that we might see a staffer class that starts in DSA and is willing to entertain joining MYD.”
From Slate ● Oct. 20, 2026
Now, she lives in "limbo every day", not willing to give up the search for her son, clinging to the hope he will be found alive, but having exhausted all avenues for help.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
Macauley credits the achievement to a "beautiful partnership" with students and researchers who were willing to challenge established ideas about Alzheimer's disease.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026
Mr. Kravitz launched into a lecture on his standards for entries he was willing to submit to the merchants' association.
From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
