willingwill‧ing /ˈwɪlɪŋ/ ●●● S2 W3 adjective 
How much are they willing to pay?quite/perfectly willing I told them I was perfectly willing to help.2willing helper/volunteer/partner etc someone who is eager to help etc and does not have to be persuaded: I soon had an army of willing helpers.—willingly adverb: Sixty percent of voters said they would willingly pay higher taxes for better health care.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Get a bike, find a willing friend, and explore the bike trails.
- He's not a very bright boy, but he's young, strong, and willing.
- She's an enthusiastic, willing learner.
- The police believe Davison was a willing participant in the murder.
- During our last barbecue Lucy worked with a willing heart.
- Houghton convinced himself he was searching so avidly for the match that he was almost willing himself to find it.
- It is willing and able to feed on a variety of prey species, up to the size of antelopes.
- My father would be willing to move with me and this of course would allow me to sell my present house.
- Some certainly saw her as a kind of human sacrifice, albeit a willing one.
- The two councillors serve the Association and the area well and are always willing to attend meetings and find out information.
- Under question, Edward told me a little more about Laura's past than she herself was willing to volunteer.
- Would they be willing to lose a little as well as win a little as the days added up to years?
Longman Language Activatorto be willing to do something
if you are willing to do something that is necessary or that you have been asked to do, you will do it fairly happily: · He's willing to tell the police everything he knows.· To do well as a journalist, you have to be willing to change jobs very frequently.· Investors are willing to pay more for stocks when interest rates are low.
to be willing to do something at any time, whenever it needs to be done: · I'm always ready to help if you need me.· We are ready to consider any serious proposals.· If you really want to sell, price your house sensibly and be ready to make a deal.
spoken to be willing to do something that someone wants you to do, even though you might prefer not to: · I don't mind driving if you're tired.· If you don't mind waiting a few minutes, we can check our records for you.
to be very willing to do something that will help someone else: · Our sales staff are always pleased to help.· "Could you do me a favor?" "Sure, I'd be glad to."· John says he'd be happy to give you a hand with the gardening.be only too glad/happy/pleased to do something (=be very willing): · I'd be only too pleased to look after the kids for you.
to say that you are willing to do something that someone has asked you to do, especially when this will take some effort or be inconvenient: · I've agreed to help Sarah move house this weekend.· One of the jurors agreed to talk about the experience, but did not want to be named.kindly agree to do something formal: · Officer Browning has kindly agreed to come into school and give us a talk on crime prevention.
to be willing to do something, especially something difficult or unpleasant: · He was prepared to use force if necessary.· You'll never learn to speak another language unless you're prepared to make an effort.· Griffiths was prepared to spend up to $500,000 to renovate the old theater.
eager, hard-working, and willing to do anything you are asked to do: · He's not a very bright boy, but he's young, strong, and willing.· She's an enthusiastic, willing learner.
informal to be willing to try something dangerous, new, difficult, or risky: · "Want to go climbing with us?" "Yeah, I'm game."be game to do something American: · She's one of those people who's game to try anything.be game for British: · Tim's always game for a laugh. (=willing to do things that might be fun)
when you do something willingly · I'd willingly pay higher taxes if the money was spent on health and education.· Hundreds of teenagers volunteer willingly to help in service organizations.· She willingly cut her beautiful long hair in order to play Joan of Arc in Shaw's play.
if you do something voluntarily , especially something difficult, unpleasant, or inconvenient, you do it willingly and not because you are forced to: · She wasn't fired or asked to resign; she left voluntarily.· The company has voluntarily recalled the product to check for defects.
: willing accomplice/partner/participant etc someone who takes part in an activity with someone else without being forced to, especially a dishonest or criminal activity: · The police believe Davison was a willing participant in the murder.· Get a bike, find a willing friend, and explore the bike trails.
if you do something of your own free will , you do it because you choose to and want to, and not because you are forced to: · Nobody forced her to go -- she left of her own free will.· How many of our teenage children actually help around the house of their own free will?
actions that are voluntary are done willingly, not because you are forced to do them or have a legal duty to do them: · Most charities rely on voluntary contributions from the public.· Playing sport on Saturday at school was entirely voluntary.· The district is calling for a voluntary ban on using wood-burning stoves, in order to improve air quality.
written if you do something readily , you do it very willingly and without needing to think about whether you should do it or not: · He readily agreed to all our suggestions.· Beth was very tired and readily accepted a seat when it was offered.· Parsons readily took responsibility for the show's failure.
if you freely do or say something, you do or say it willingly, even though it is something that other people might be embarrassed to do or say: · Mrs. Atwood's note said that she freely chose to end her life.freely admit/acknowledge: · I freely admit I made many mistakes.· Ms. Tate freely acknowledges that she hasn't paid the fines, but argues she should not have to.
if you do something gladly , you are very willing and pleased to do it: · If only I had more money in the bank, I would gladly retire.· When businesses heard about the reason for the fund-raiser, they gladly gave us donations.
to not be willing to do something not willing to do something, even though you should do it or someone else wants you to do it: · According to his lawyer, Stuart was an unwilling participant in the shooting.unwilling/not willing to do something: · She's unwilling to admit that she was wrong.· Most people are unwilling to give up their cars and use public transportation.· Put away any toys the child is not willing to share, to avoid any problems.
someone who is reluctant is not willing to do something, although they may be persuaded after refusing for a while: · Stores have cut prices to attract reluctant shoppers.· Becoming a donor is a simple process, but many people remain reluctant.reluctant to do something: · He seemed somewhat reluctant to explain, but finally did so.· Some of the older staff were reluctant to use the new equipment.
to take too much time to do something because you are unwilling to do it: · The White House has accused Congress of dragging its feet.drag your feet over/on: · They urged Parliament not to drag its feet on the bill.drag your feet in doing something: · Demonstrators say the administration is dragging its feet in establishing a housing program.
to be very unwilling to do something, especially something which affects you personally and which you may find upsetting or unpleasant to do: · His mother was still asleep and he was loath to wake her.· Congressmen are loath to limit the amount of time they can be in office.
doing something unwillingly if you do something unwillingly , you do it slowly or without any eagerness, in a way that shows you are unwilling: · Johnson unwillingly admitted he'd been drinking that evening.· He pointed at a chair, and Alfred sat down unwillingly.
if you do something reluctantly , you do it even though you are not very willing to do it: · Reluctantly, he gave the officer his name and address.· He reluctantly consented to his daughter's marriage.· Mrs. Bernson reluctantly agreed to help prepare for the conference.
if you do something against your will , you do not want to do it but you are forced to: · The refugees were sent back against their will.· No one should be forced to marry against their will.
if you do something or say something grudgingly , especially something that gives help or praise or pleasure to someone else, you do it very unwillingly: · The city council has grudgingly given $100,000 towards the new after-school care program.· Steve grudgingly admitted that Matthew had played a better game.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY I told them I was perfectly willing to help.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES She was ready and willing to work hard.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
I told them I was perfectly willing to help.· She was willing to admit that she’d made a mistake.
She was ready and willing to work hard.· Nizan is always willing to oblige with the battering ram technique, if required.· Chimney sweeps are few, and are not always willing to come so far out for a couple of chimneys.· None the less, they are not always willing or able to deploy this skill.· My parents moan at me because I am not always willing to go to work.· We are always willing to consider proposals put forward by members of the Bar.· Adam joined Lyles in July 1977 and was a conscientious employee who was always willing to help out.· In fact, we urged the Government to seek resolutions when they were not always willing.· Token triers. Always willing to Lack-a-daisy.
· As a result they are less willing to accept the increasing costs caused by disruption and seek to recover them through claims.· As bad loans proliferate, investors are less willing to buy bank debt and equity, making capital scarcer.· While two companies were prepared to pay this cost for their searches, three others were less willing to do so.· We might speculate that those with dementia would be less willing to participate in a research project than the mentally fit.· Hong Kong manufacturers depend almost entirely on export markets, many of which have been less willing to forgive and forget.· They became less willing to transfer capital to the most troubled borrowers by the conventional means of foreign direct investment.· Slightly less willing to react is a chassis afflicted by over-light steering that lacks feel.· Although the increase was understandable given the Government's vacillation, it made ministers even less willing to intervene.
· Semi-skilled and unskilled workers were more willing to relocate than management and professional staff.· In general, computational linguists are more willing to accept computer systems that are able to process a useful range of language input.· People were far more willing to use them if they were diluted in a traditional herbal infusion like chamomile.· This makes manufacturers more willing to take lower prices to get established Stateside.· Obviously they will be much more willing to do this if they already have plenty of spare liquidity.· They may be more willing than some social workers.· Campbell points out, however: that girls are more willing than boys to acknowledge the relative harmlessness of fighting.· Finally, in terms of status situation Lockwood is more willing to concede a deterioration in the position of the clerical workforce.
· Yet on the other hand governments were quite willing to disregard clearly expressed public feeling when this seemed in the national interest.· He was quite willing to delegate field command to Terhune until the objective was obtained.· He's quite willing to do the right thing by the girl.· He seemed quite willing to lend a hand and came straight round.
· If people weren't sure of getting the victim for their money they wouldn't be so willing to pay up.· Investors are so willing to believe in recovery around the corner that they will clutch at false hopes almost indefinitely.· They looked so eager, so willing to be pleased.· Few cultures have been so willing to tempt the gods.· Once both do, neither may be so willing to be bullied.· The reputations of others who may not have been so willing to be identified are sacrificed in the quest for titillation.
· At Oxford I discovered that most people were only too willing to be friendly if I gave them a chance.· Wilson had nursed her and taken care of her and Phoebe was only too willing to show her gratitude.· Maggie Parkin was infatuated with her husband and only too willing to believe his promise.· Far too willing for my own good.· High-ranking officers were only too willing to pay vastly inflated prices for a little judicious alteration and improvement to their standard uniforms.· Surely one of your delightful friends would be only too willing to come back and get you.
· Plump young body. Very willing to show it off, she was.· He now had a permanent and very willing model, and not only one; he had several.· But we were five against double as many, and armed villains very willing to kill.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► God willing► show willing► the spirit is willing (but the flesh is weak)
- Any Texas prisoner who finds a willing partner on the outside is allowed to be married.
- Find yourself a willing partner and sit facing each other.
- For example, a teacher who says that she thinks some of the dolls need bathing will soon have some willing helpers.
- I belong to several organisations, some are small and local who need willing helpers and supporters.
- Non-horsy spouses and relatives can be trained for this role, but they must be willing helpers!
- There may be a willing volunteer or a professional person specially appointed, but this may not be easy to find.
- Why should he bother, when he had a willing partner waiting back in his rooms?
- You take one pair of ends, your willing helper takes the other, and off you go.
- God willing, the war will end soon.
WORD FAMILYnounwillingness ≠ unwillingnessadjectivewilling ≠ unwillingadverbwillingly ≠ unwillingly
1[not before noun] prepared to do something, or having no reason to not want to do itwilling to do something How much are they willing to pay?quite/perfectly willing I told them I was perfectly willing to help.2willing helper/volunteer/partner etc someone who is eager to help etc and does not have to be persuaded: I soon had an army of willing helpers.—willingly adverb: Sixty percent of voters said they would willingly pay higher taxes for better health care.- news-sheet
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