willingly

willingly — adverb

1. with a positive attitude, doing something because you truly want to, not because

1.adverbB2
Definition

with a positive attitude, doing something because you truly want to, not because you are forced or expected to

Example

Beatriz willingly helped her neighbour carry the heavy boxes upstairs.

adverb before main verb in past simple

Roya willingly gave up her seat on the train to an elderly passenger.

Common collocations
  • willingly agree
  • willingly help
  • willingly accept
  • willingly give up
  • willingly participate
  • willingly offer
  • willingly share
  • willingly cooperate
Synonyms
  • readily

    emphasises speed and lack of hesitation; 'readily' suggests you do something immediately, while 'willingly' focuses on your positive attitude

  • gladly

    more emotional than 'willingly'; 'gladly' stresses happiness about the action itself

  • voluntarily

    focuses on the absence of obligation; 'willingly' adds the idea that you were happy about it, not just that no one forced you

Antonyms
  • reluctantly

    doing something even though you do not want to — the opposite attitude behind the action

  • unwillingly

    direct antonym; doing something when you would rather not

  • grudgingly

    showing annoyance or resentment while doing something

Usage Note

Willingly usually appears just before the main verb ('She willingly agreed'), but can also come at the end for emphasis ('She agreed willingly'). Unlike voluntarily, which only states the absence of force, willingly suggests the person felt happy about the action.

Common Mistakes

He willingly lied to the police.
He deliberately lied to the police.
willingly has a positive tone (doing something you are happy to do), so it sounds unnatural with negative actions. Use deliberately or intentionally instead.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

All five words describe doing something by choice, but they differ in emotional tone. Willingly is the most neutral of the positive group — it simply means you wanted to do it and were happy about it. Readily adds the idea of speed and no hesitation, as in 'He readily agreed to drive us to the airport.' Gladly is warmer and more emotional — you say 'I would gladly help' when you feel genuine happiness about helping. Voluntarily is the most neutral of all and only removes obligation — you can voluntarily stay late without being happy about it, which willingly would not allow. Eagerly is the strongest, showing active enthusiasm. Compare: 'She willingly took on the task' (happy to do it vs 'She eagerly took on the task' (excited to start right away).'

willingly ↗readily ↗gladly ↗voluntarilyeagerly ↗

Common collocations

Phrases

  • willingly agree to
  • willingly take part in
  • willingly give up
  • willingly accept
  • willingly share with

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Willingly comes from the Old English word willende, the present participle of willan, meaning 'to wish, desire, or want'. The suffix -ly was added later to form the adverb. The core idea — doing something because you want to — has stayed the same for over a thousand years.