1
as in ready
having a desire or inclination (as for a specified course of action)
I'm a little confused, but perfectly willing to do as you ask
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in quick
having or showing the ability to respond without delay or hesitation
she's always lent a willing hand whenever a neighbor needed help or a friend a favor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in volunteer
done, made, or given with one's own free will
a willing sacrifice of her limited free time for a good cause
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in leaving
to give by means of a will
willed their house to their adult children
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in wanting
to see fit
do as you will—I wash my hands of the whole affair
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of willing
Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Jan. 2026
Some industry representatives ahead of the meeting expressed worry that attending risked casting them as willing participants in a callously opportunistic grab for Venezuela’s crude, people familiar with the matter said.
—Bloomberg Wire, Dallas Morning News, 10 Jan. 2026
James McNicholas, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
From his first moments onscreen in a performance of Duracell Bunny physicality and motormouth pushiness, Chalamet conveys the sense of a shameless young man willing himself toward greatness with a combination of chutzpah, amorality and unshakeable self-belief.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for willing
Adjective
Trump has been willing to use force more widely, in Syria, during the war in Iran, briefly.
—Verb
Against Wolves on Saturday, there was a moment in the second half when the ball was played forward to him and the Emirates Stadium crowd was vocally willing him to hold it up.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for willing
Adjective
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Kabylo’s had 60 cardboard boxes folded and ready to go the other day, as if any minute a customer might walk in and order 60 pizzas to go.—
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The story that had been circling in his memory for years now seemed ready to alight.—
Adjective
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As Beck spoke on the crowded field afterward, Cristobal swept past and stopped for quick bear hug.—
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Most people drive up a Forest Service Road for quicker access, putting them at the beginning of a two-mile out-and-back trail with roughly 2,500 feet of elevation gain.—
Adjective
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Within the past couple of years, the group has become a part of Arrowhead Kingdom, an all-volunteer national network of Chiefs fan groups.—
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That’s noteworthy for a show based at a high-school auditorium in Litchfield and run by a staff that is almost entirely volunteer, including the show’s star and its producer.—
Verb
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Limited backup power could knock out internet access, leaving millions to wait for instant answers.—
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Vatti said Diamantis made an $80,000 payment on the day after signing the retainer and made an additional six payments totalling $105,000 between August 2024 and February 2025, leaving the $65,000 balance.—
Verb
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But on the evidence of his seven Premier League appearances so far for Forest — six of which have been as a substitute — there is little prospect of City wanting to utilise that clause.—
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Instead of looking for rising high school stars such as Hill to fill their lineups, college coaches are dipping into the portal to fill instant needs, which can have consequences for high school seniors wanting to play on the next level, Woods said.—
Adjective
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And Michael Hodges is musically inclined and, uh, a savant in many ways.—
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While the Rodríguez siblings may be prepared to absorb this to preserve stability and their own survival, hard-line military figures could be far less inclined to do so.—
Adjective
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The program was also voluntary — if residents saw fit just to throw all their recyclable glass and aluminum and paper into the regular garbage there was nothing stopping them from doing so.—
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But that doesn’t mean anyone took it easy on Sherrod, who always participated in voluntary class time.—
Verb
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Effectively, Newsom’s slow roll protects him from taking any meaningful actions, thus bequeathing reparations to his successor, like his many other unresolved California issues.—
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Rewriting society’s decision-making Unlike biased pundits who hem, haw and hedge their bets, Web3 prediction markets cut through noise, bequeathing a signal that feeds into pricing mechanisms themselves.—
Cite this Entry
“Willing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/willing. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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