willingness
Americannoun
-
consent or readiness to do something.
The majority of the neighborhood’s older residents were employed, and younger people showed a willingness to work but often could not find jobs.
-
an inclination or preference: The country has shown no sign of willingness to make concessions.
We admire her willingness to stand up for what she believes.
The country has shown no sign of willingness to make concessions.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of willingness
Explanation
If someone's willing, he has the quality of willingness, which can vary from meaning "prepared," to "enthusiastic," like your little brother's eager willingness to help walk the dog. If your troop of Girl Scouts has a willingness to try anything, it means they stay cheerful and ready, even if they're hiking through a prickly field of thistles. When something is done with willingness, there is no sense of resentment or hesitation. The word's origin lies in the Old English wyllan, "to wish, desire, or want."
Vocabulary lists containing willingness
"Fears and Phobias"
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The Benefits of Being an Octopus
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The Rock and the River
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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.
During extended chats with the UK media, one journalist asked, pointedly and with persistence, about realistic targets for the season ahead and questioned the club's willingness to spend enough to achieve them.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
He might look intimidating, but his smile and willingness to participate in school gatherings propels others to immediately embrace him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
The Sherman Antitrust Act preceded his presidency, but Roosevelt’s willingness to use federal power against combinations that undermined competition became a defining feature of his almost eight years in office.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
A Kosovo government spokesperson said: "We value the willingness of partner countries to initiate and advance new co-operation initiatives that serve common interests, mutual priorities, and the strengthening of international justice mechanisms".
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
But unlike Bentley, Chambers had been disgusted by Stalin's willingness to make a pact with Hitler in 1939.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
