willpower
Americannoun
noun
-
the ability to control oneself and determine one's actions
-
firmness of will
Etymology
Origin of willpower
First recorded in 1870–75; will 2 ( def. ) + power ( def. )
Explanation
Willpower is the ability to control or restrain yourself. If you bake brownies and can keep yourself from tasting them until after dinner, you can thank your willpower. A less descriptive — but simpler — way to say willpower is simply will. Whichever word you prefer, you can use it to describe someone's deliberate or purposeful control. In the case of willpower, the person is likely to be resisting a temptation or impulse. It takes willpower not to argue with someone whose opinions make you angry, and willpower to eat just one potato chip.
Vocabulary lists containing willpower
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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.
In other words, the relentless urge to binge might not be a psychological failing or a lack of willpower but a measurable hormonal deficit that drugs might be able to treat.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Estrada’s show only lasted for two seasons, but its very first episode shares an honest interpretation of American willpower.
From Salon ● Jul. 1, 2026
“This statue is a celebration of life. It is a symbol of resilience, freedom, patriotism, strength, and the willpower to keep fighting for the future of America.”
From Slate ● Jun. 2, 2026
Still, the results add to evidence that weight control is not just a matter of willpower or calories.
From Science Daily ● May 31, 2026
Peter still has too little character, too little willpower, too little courage and strength.
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
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.
