Willing — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈwi-liŋ/ will·ing

Meaning & Definition of Willing

Willing (adjective)

  1. inclined or favorably disposed in mind, ready
  2. prompt to act or respond
  3. done, borne, or accepted by choice or without reluctance

Willing (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. 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"

    similar: amenable, disposed, fain, game, glad, inclined, minded, ready
    related: predisposed, prone, accommodating, agreeable, compliant, cooperative, obedient, obliging, submissive, favorable, receptive, prepared, prompt, quick, responsive, swift, desirous, eager, enthused, enthusiastic, excited
    opposite: disinclined, unamenable, unwilling
    near: averse, loath, reluctant, reticent

  2. 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"

    similar: alacritous, alert, expeditious, prompt, quick, ready
    related: receptive, responsive, immediate, instant, instantaneous, summary, breakneck, breathless, brisk, fast, fleet, fleet-footed, hit-and-run, lightning, rapid, rapid-fire, rattling, snappy, speedy, swift, whirlwind, eager, keen, sharp, apt, clever, quick-witted, ready-witted, sharp-witted, smart
    near: unresponsive, crawling, creeping, dallying, dawdling, dilatory, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, lagging, lazy, lazyish, leisurely, logy, poking, poky, slothful, slow, slowish, sluggish, tardy, unhurried, dormant, idle, inactive, inert

  3. done, made, or given with one's own free will

    "a willing sacrifice of her limited free time for a good cause"

    similar: freewill, self-imposed, uncoerced, unforced, volitional, voluntary, volunteer
    related: discretionary, elective, optional, impulsive, instinctive, spontaneous, unpremeditated, conscious, deliberate, intentional, knowing, willful
    opposite: coerced, compelled, forced, involuntary, nonvoluntary, unwilled, will-less
    near: compulsory, enforced, mandatory, necessary, nonelective, obligatory, ordered, required

Willing (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give by means of a will

    "willed their house to their adult children"

    similar: bequeathing, leaving
    related: deeding, handing down, handing on, passing (down), devising

  2. to see fit

    "do as you will—I wash my hands of the whole affair"

    similar: choosing, liking, pleasing, wanting, wishing
    related: aching (for), coveting, craving, desiring, dying (for), fancying, hankering (for), hungering (for), itching (for), longing (for), lusting (for or after), panting (after), pining (for), repining (for), sighing (for), thirsting (for), yearning (for), deciding, determining, resolving

Related Entry: Will (verb)

Will is a different word from Willing. The synonyms below are for will, not for willing.

  1. to give by means of a will

    "willed their house to their adult children"

    similar: bequeath, leave
    related: deed, hand down, hand on, pass (down), devise

  2. to see fit

    "do as you will—I wash my hands of the whole affair"

    similar: choose, like, please, want, wish
    related: ache (for), covet, crave, desire, die (for), fancy, hanker (for), hunger (for), itch (for), long (for), lust (for or after), pant (after), pine (for), repine (for), sigh (for), thirst (for), yearn (for), decide, determine, resolve

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Willing

The most common words with a similar meaning to Willing:

amenable, disposed, fain, game, glad, inclined, minded, ready, alacritous, alert, expeditious, prompt, quick, freewill, self-imposed, uncoerced, unforced, volitional, voluntary, volunteer, bequeathing, leaving, choosing, liking, pleasing, wanting, wishing

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Willing

Words with the opposite meaning of Willing:

disinclined, unamenable, unwilling, coerced, compelled, forced, involuntary, nonvoluntary, unwilled, will-less

Related Words for Willing

predisposed, prone, accommodating, agreeable, compliant, cooperative, obedient, obliging, submissive, favorable, receptive, prepared, responsive, swift, desirous, eager, enthused, enthusiastic, excited, immediate, instant, instantaneous, summary, breakneck, breathless, brisk, fast, fleet, fleet-footed, hit-and-run

Near Antonyms of Willing

averse, loath, reluctant, reticent, unresponsive, crawling, creeping, dallying, dawdling, dilatory, dillydallying, dragging, laggard, lagging, lazy, lazyish, leisurely, logy, poking, poky, slothful, slow, slowish, sluggish, tardy, unhurried, dormant, idle, inactive, inert

Word Forms of Willing

Derived words: willingly (adverb), willingness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Willing

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Willing

Words & Phrases Containing Willing

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

Frequently Asked Questions about Willing

What does "Willing" mean?

"Willing" means inclined or favorably disposed in mind, ready. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: inclined or favorably disposed in mind, ready. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Willing"?

Other words for "Willing" include amenable, disposed, fain, game, glad, inclined, minded and ready. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Willing" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Willing"?

There are 109 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Willing". Common alternatives include amenable, disposed, fain, game, glad, inclined, minded, ready, alacritous and alert.

What is the opposite of "Willing"?

Antonyms of "Willing" include disinclined, unamenable, unwilling, coerced, compelled, forced, involuntary and nonvoluntary. Near antonyms include averse, loath, reluctant and reticent.

How do you use "Willing" in a sentence?

Examples of "Willing" in a sentence: "I'm a little confused, but perfectly willing to do as you ask"; "she's always lent a willing hand whenever a neighbor needed help or a friend a favor"; "a willing sacrifice of her limited free time for a good cause".

Is "Willing" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Willing" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Willing" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Willing" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Willing"?

"Willing" is pronounced /ˈwi-liŋ/ and divided into syllables as will·ing.