willing

willing — adjective

1. If you are willing to do something, you are happy to do it when someone asks you

1.adjectiveA2
Definition

If you are willing to do something, you are happy to do it when someone asks you or when it is needed — without feeling forced or reluctant.

Example

Stephanie was willing to help her classmates with the math homework after school.

be willing + to-infinitive for agreeing to help

The manager asked if anyone was willing to work on Saturday for extra pay.

Common collocations
  • quite willing
  • perfectly willing
  • more than willing
  • always willing
Synonyms
  • ready

    stronger emphasis on being prepared to act immediately rather than on attitude

  • happy

    more emotional and personal; suggests pleasure in helping

  • prepared

    focuses on having made necessary arrangements or mental readiness

  • agreeable

    more formal; implies a general tendency to say yes without resistance

Antonyms
  • unwilling

    direct opposite; not wanting to do something

  • reluctant

    implies hesitation or internal resistance even if one eventually agrees

Grammar Patterns

be willing + to-infinitive

Usage Note

Frequently follows the pattern be willing + to-infinitive. In informal spoken English, the contracted negative I won't can replace I am not willing to.

Common Mistakes

I am willing helping you with the bags.
I am willing to help you with the bags.
After 'willing', use the to-infinitive form, not the -ing form.

2. When someone is described as a willing helper, worker, or participant, they show

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

When someone is described as a willing helper, worker, or participant, they show real energy and enthusiasm for what they do — they do not need to be pushed or persuaded to help.

Example

The children were willing volunteers who helped clean up the park every weekend.

willing + noun (volunteer/helper/participant)

Sumin was a willing participant in the school play, practising her lines every evening.

Common collocations
  • willing volunteer
  • willing worker
  • willing helper
  • willing participant
Synonyms
  • eager

    stronger, suggesting impatient excitement to begin

  • enthusiastic

    broader; can describe both people and their behaviour

  • keen

    common in British English; similar to eager but slightly milder

  • prompt

    focuses on acting quickly and without delay

Antonyms
  • reluctant

    suggests the person needs convincing and acts unwillingly

  • lazy

    describes someone who avoids effort and lacks energy to help

Grammar Patterns

willing + noun (helper/worker/participant)

Usage Note

This sense is only used attributively — directly before a noun (a willing helper, willing participants). It cannot be used predicatively (✗ She is willing with this meaning).

Common Mistakes

She is a very willing about volunteering.
She is a very willing volunteer.
In this sense, 'willing' must come directly before a noun; do not insert a preposition.
Idioms

show willing

idiom

To demonstrate that you are prepared to help or work hard when needed.

Maya showed willing by staying late to finish the project.

Did Brian show willing when the team needed extra help?

the spirit is willing (but the flesh is weak)

idiom

You want to do good things but are too lazy, tired, or busy to actually do them.

Sara wanted to exercise daily, but the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak.

Diego planned to study all weekend, yet the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

While all these words describe a person who does not object to an action, they differ in emphasis. 'Ready' stresses immediacy and preparedness ('She was ready to leave at a moment's notice'), whereas 'willing' focuses on the attitude itself without implying urgency. 'Happy' adds a warmer, more personal emotional tone ('I'd be happy to help'), making it feel friendlier than the neutral 'willing'. 'Prepared' suggests prior planning or mental readiness rather than pure attitude ('He was prepared to accept the consequences'). 'Agreeable' is more formal and implies a general tendency to go along with others without conflict ('An agreeable colleague never argues about assignments'). In everyday speech, 'willing' is the safest and most neutral choice for expressing consent without overstating emotion or preparation.

ready ↗happy ↗prepared ↗agreeable ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Willing' comes from Old English willende, the present participle of willan ('to wish, desire, want'). Its root reaches back to Proto-Germanic *wiljaną and further to the Proto-Indo-European *welh₂- ('to wish, choose') — the same root that gave Latin velle ('to wish'), from which English gets 'voluntary' and 'volition'. The adjective 'willing' first appeared in the 14th century with the sense of being ready to act or consent.