willpower

American  

[wil-poh-er] / ˈwɪlˌpoʊ ər /

Or will power

noun

1. control of one's impulses and actions; self-control.

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willpower British  

/ ˈwɪlˌpaʊə /

noun

1. the ability to control oneself and determine one's actions

2. firmness of will

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Etymology

Origin of willpower

First recorded in 1870–75; will ² ( def. ) + power ( def. )

Example Sentences

It’s much easier to stock a supportive fridge, prep a few flexible building blocks and make healthy food genuinely delicious than it is to rely solely on willpower.

From Salon • Mar. 9, 2026

As Ro Chief Executive Officer Zach Reitano puts it in an interview: “No one in the world has more willpower than Serena Williams.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 7, 2026

"We must fight to be truly free, and that can only be achieved through willpower."

From Barron's • Jan. 28, 2026

Keeping pre-cut fruit within reach in the refrigerator or placing sweets out of sight can support long-term goals without requiring constant willpower.

From Science Daily • Jan. 5, 2026

Could I turn myself into him by sheer willpower?

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

Related Words

• firmness
• grit
• self-control
• self-discipline