will

verb (1)

\ wəl, (ə)l, ᵊl, ˈwil

past would\ wəd , (ə)d , ˈwu̇d

\; present singular and plural will

Definition of will

(Entry 1 of 3)

auxiliary verb

1 —used to express futurity tomorrow morning I will wake up in this first-class hotel suite— Tennessee Williams

2 —used to express desire, choice, willingness, consent, or in negative constructions refusal no one would take the jobif we will all do our bestwill you please stop that racket

3 —used to express a command, exhortation, or injunction you will do as I say, at once

4 —used to express frequent, customary, or habitual action or natural tendency or disposition will get angry over nothingwill work one day and loaf the next

5 —used to express probability and often equivalent to the simple verb that will be the babysitter

6a —used to express inevitability accidents will happen

b —used to express determination, insistence, persistence, or willfulness I have made up my mind to go and go I will

7 —used to express capability or sufficiency the back seat will hold three passengers

transitive verb

: desire, wish call it what you will

intransitive verb

: to have a wish or desire whether we will or no

if you will

: if you wish to call it that a kind of preoccupation, or obsession if you will— Louis Auchincloss

will

noun

\ ˈwil

Definition of will (Entry 2 of 3)

1 : a legal declaration of a person's wishes regarding the disposal of his or her property or estate after death especially : a written instrument legally executed by which a person makes disposition of his or her estate to take effect after death

2 : desire, wish: such as

a : disposition, inclination where there's a will there's a way

b : appetite, passion

c : choice, determination

3 : the act, process, or experience of willing : volition

4a : mental powers manifested as wishing, choosing, desiring, or intending

b : a disposition to act according to principles or ends

c : the collective desire of a group the will of the people

5 : the power of control over one's own actions or emotions a man of iron will

6a : something desired especially : a choice or determination of one having authority or power

b(1) [ from the phrase our will is which introduces it ] : the part of a summons expressing a royal command

(2) archaic : request, command

at will

: as one wishes : as or when it pleases or suits oneself

will

verb (2)

\ ˈwil

willed; willing; wills

Definition of will (Entry 3 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : to cause or change by an act of will believed he could will himself to succeed also : to try to do so

b : intend, purpose

c : decree, ordain Providence wills it

d : to determine by an act of choice

2a : to dispose of by or as if by a will : bequeath willed his entire estate to his son

b : to order or direct by a will willed that her property be divided among her children

intransitive verb

1 : to exercise the will

2 : choose do as you will

Synonyms Shall vs. Will: Usage Guide More Example Sentences Learn More about will

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Shall vs. Will: Usage Guide

Verb (1)

From the reams of pronouncements written about the distinction between shall and will—dating back as far as the 17th century—it is clear that the rules laid down have never very accurately reflected actual usage. The nationalistic statements of 18th and 19th century British grammarians, who commonly cited the misuses of the Irish, the Scots, and occasionally the Americans, suggest that the traditional rules may have come closest to the usage of southern England. Some modern commentators believe that English usage is still the closest to the traditionally prescribed norms. Most modern commentators allow that will is more common in nearly all uses. The entries for shall and will in this dictionary show current usage.

Examples of will in a Sentence

Noun

In her will, she asked that her money be donated to the church. He made a will only days before his death. He has no will of his own. a government that reflects the will of the people

will

Definition of will

Synonyms for will

Shall vs. Will: Usage Guide

Examples of will in a Sentence

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