adv

willingly

WIH-lihng-lee

adv

By one's own free choice, without needing to be forced or persuaded.

"He willingly gave up his seat for the elderly passenger."

"No one willingly signs up for extra work."

How to Use Willingly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDoing something because you want to, not because someone made you.

Common pairings

willingly accept willingly admit give up willingly

more willingly comparative, most willingly superlative

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He _____ gave up his seat for the elderly passenger.

From Middle English willyngly, built from willing + the adverb ending -ly.

unwillingly

voluntarily unwillingly

kingly tingly lovingly amazingly seemingly mockingly knowingly alarmingly annoyingly strikingly shockingly stunningly

unwillingly voluntarily