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adjective
disposed or consenting; inclined: willing to go along.
cheerfully consenting or ready: a willing worker.
done, given, borne, used, etc., with cheerful readiness.
Origin of willing
1250–1300; Middle English. See
will2,
-ing2 Related formswill·ing·ly, adverbwill·ing·ness, nouno·ver·will·ing, adjectiveo·ver·will·ing·ly, adverbo·ver·will·ing·ness, nounpre·will·ing, adjectivepre·will·ing·ly, adverbpre·will·ing·ness, nounqua·si-will·ing, adjectivequa·si-will·ing·ly, adverbDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for willingly
Contemporary Examples of willingly
The letter attacks Braley for having “willingly voted for extreme measures that threaten the lives of unborn children.”
Of course, this was greeted with a round of applause and whoops from her room of willingly incarcerated followers.
We willingly give our health care providers a wealth of data about ourselves.
McCaskill told me the victim had willingly gone home from a bar with the defendant—but then things took a dark turn.
Back then she was “forced,” but soon she started to hustle on corners “willingly,” and was paid for sex.
Historical Examples of willingly
To avoid that, if there were no other way, I would most willingly be buried alive.
How willingly would my dear mother shew kindness to me, were she permitted!
I did so most willingly, as we had already got further to the eastward than I wished.
You feel sleepy after your meals, and willingly enjoy a nap?
How willingly he would have hastened back and replaced the money if he but had it.
British Dictionary definitions for willinglyadjective
favourably disposed or inclined; ready
cheerfully or eagerly compliant
done, given, accepted, etc, freely or voluntarily
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 willinglyadj.Old English willendliche; see will (v.).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Idioms and Phrases with willinglysee ready, willing, and able; spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
