willing

adjective

will·​ing ˈwi-liŋ 

1

: inclined or favorably disposed in mind : ready

willing and eager to help

2

: prompt to act or respond

lending a willing hand

3

: done, borne, or accepted by choice or without reluctance

a willing sacrifice

4

: of or relating to the will or power of choosing : volitional

willingly

ˈwi-liŋ-lē 

adverb

willingness noun

Synonyms

• amenable
• disposed
• fain
• game
• glad
• inclined
• minded
• ready

Choose the Right Synonym for willing

voluntary, intentional, deliberate, willing mean done or brought about of one's own will.

voluntary implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion.

a voluntary confession

intentional stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved.

the intentional concealment of vital information

deliberate implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences.

deliberate acts of sabotage

willing implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another.

willing obedience

Examples of willing in a Sentence

He was a willing participant in the crime.

She's lending a willing hand.

Recent Examples on the Web

While that might be true for future presidents, Trump is not as swayed by public opinion as a second-term president, and a Congress ruled by the same party is much more willing to acquiesce to the demands of the executive. —Carrie Johnson, NPR, 12 Mar. 2025

By contrast, Keating’s response was a significant escalation of how strongly Democrats are willing to defend McBride — and the dignity of trans people more broadly — in the halls of Congress. —Samantha Riedel, Them, 12 Mar. 2025

My company, Bright Horizons’ annual survey of 2000 working parents, The Modern Family Index revealed a more emboldened generation of parents, willing to speak up about these challenges. —Priya Krishnan, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025

Democrats are in the unusual position of being willing to risk a shutdown to negotiate a better deal with Republicans. —Justin Green, Axios, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing willing

• God willing
• show willing
• the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak

Rhymes for willing

• billing
• chilling
• drilling
• filling
• grilling
• killing
• milling
• pilling
• rilling
• schilling
• shilling
• skilling

Kids Definition

willing

adjective

will·​ing ˈwil-iŋ 

1

: feeling no objection : ready

willing to go

2

: prompt to act or respond

willing workers

3

: done, made, or given by choice

a willing sacrifice

willingly adverb

willingness noun