- [countable, uncountable] the ability to control your thoughts and actions in order to achieve what you want to do; a strong and determined desire to do something that you want to do
- to have a strong will
- to have an iron will/a will of iron
- Her decision to continue shows great strength of will.
- The matter became a battle of wills between the king and the barons.
- The meeting turned out to be a clash of wills.
- will to do something The government lacked the political will to reform the tax system.
- In spite of what happened, he never lost the will to live.
Extra Examples- His unassuming manner concealed an iron will.
- I was driven by the pure will to survive.
- It requires an act of will to make myself go running in the morning.
- She gradually regained the will to live.
- She has a very strong will.
- She's lost the will to try and change things.
- With a great effort of will he resisted her pleas.
- her indomitable will to win
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- great
- indomitable
- iron
- …
- have
- lack
- exercise
- …
- against your will
- at will
- an act of will
- a battle of wills
- a clash of wills
- …
Definitions on the go
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- [singular] what somebody wants to happen in a particular situation
- They governed according to the will of the people.
- He thought he was doing the will of God.
- against somebody's will I was forced to sign the agreement against my will.
- I don't want to go against your will.
- Much against my will, I let him go.
- She always wants to impose her will on other people (= to get what she wants).
- (formal) It is God's will.
- She came of her own will (= because she wanted to), not forced by Antony.
Extra Examples- My father didn't want me to leave home, and I didn't like to go against his will.
- Is that the general will, that we keep the present voting arrangements?
- They were taught to obey their father's will without question.
- the collective/general/majority/national/popular/public will
- She usually manages to impose her will on the rest of the group.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- great
- indomitable
- iron
- …
- have
- lack
- exercise
- …
- against your will
- at will
- an act of will
- a battle of wills
- a clash of wills
- …
- (also also formal testament)[countable] a legal document that says what is to happen to somebody’s money and property after they die
- I ought to make a will.
- in your will My father left me the house in his will.
- She did not leave a will.
- On March 25, 1616 William Shakespeare revised his last will and testament.
- by will Some things cannot be given away by will (= in a will).
Extra ExamplesTopics Moneyb2, Law and justiceb2- Under her father's will, she gets $5 000 a year.
- They succeeded in getting the will overturned.
- Two people must witness your signature or your will is not valid.
- The family decided to contest the will in court.
- She was moved when her neighbour remembered her in his will.
- She left no will and was unmarried.
- Remarriage would revoke all previous wills.
- She left me some money in her will.
- My aunt remembered me in her will.
- Have you made your will?
- His lawyer drew up the will.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- valid
- living
- draft
- draw up
- make
- …
- by will
- in a/the will
- under a/the will
- …
- somebody’s last will and testament
- -willed(in adjectives) having the type of will mentioned
- a strong-willed young woman
- weak-willed greedy people
Word Originnoun Old English willa (noun), willian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wil, German Wille (nouns), also to the modal verb will and the adverb well.
Idioms
See will in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee will in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishat will
- whenever or wherever you like
- They were able to come and go at will.
- She believes employers should have the right to hire and fire at will.
where there’s a will there’s a way
- (saying) if you really want to do something then you will find a way of doing it
with the best will in the world
- used to say that you cannot do something, even though you really want to
- With the best will in the world I could not describe him as a good father.
with a will
- in a willing and enthusiastic way
- They set to work with a will.
Check pronunciation:
will