willing

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "willing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to having a readiness to do something. Example sentence: I am willing to try that new recipe for dinner tonight.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By cutting into the journalistic bone, however, Desmond will surely find it harder still to find anyone willing to take them on.

The Guardian

So in the coming months, Cameron will try to convince his European partners that the British are willing to leave if their demands are not met.

The Guardian

The basic problem is that we care so much about fairness that we are often willing to sacrifice economic well-being to enforce it.

The Economist

Behavioral economists have shown that a sizable percentage of people are willing to pay real money to punish people who are taking from a common pot but not contributing to it.

The Economist

The governor's work leading New Jersey through the recovery from the storm, which damaged more than 360,000 homes and businesses, helped cement his national reputation as a no-nonsense, hard-driving governor willing to work closely with Democrats to get things done.

The Guardian

"The Lib Dems have already championed their commitment in 2010 by ending indefinite detention and are now willing to introduce a time limit alongside resettling 1,500 Syrian refugees and ending the use of pain as a form of restraint".

The Guardian

"Of those surveyed, 91% are willing to spend more than they do on their health," he says, and clearly this group isn't constrained by a lack of resources.

The Guardian - Money

After three days on deck they're still fresh, willing and polite.

The Guardian

Plibersek said many Australian health experts were willing to go to the region to help contain the virus but the government was "not assisting them or facilitating that in any serious way".

The Guardian

He said he was willing to destroy a copy of the Snowden material at the Guardian's office in London because other copies were available abroad.

The Guardian

His biggest strategic miscalculation was not to use the leverage he had over George Bush as the only substantial western ally to join the 2003 invasion – the "coalition of the willing" – to extract a better plan for the occupation of Saddam Hussein's ill-governed state once the fighting was over (even sooner than expected).

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the level of formality required. "Willing" is generally suitable for neutral and formal contexts but may sound too direct in situations where a more subtle approach is needed. In such cases, consider alternative phrases like "open to" or "inclined to."

Common error

Be specific about what someone is "willing" to do. Avoid vague statements that could lead to misinterpretations. For example, instead of saying "They are willing", specify "They are willing to negotiate the terms".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "willing" is as an adjective. It describes a state of mind characterized by readiness or consent to do something. Ludwig AI identifies its correct and frequent usage across diverse sources, confirming its role in expressing disposition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "willing" functions as an adjective to express readiness or consent. It's deemed grammatically correct and very common in modern English, particularly within news and media contexts. While versatile, paying attention to specificity and appropriate register enhances clarity. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, providing ample examples from authoritative sources like The Guardian and The Economist. Remember, while alternatives like "ready", "inclined", or "agreeable" offer variety, "willing" remains a solid choice for conveying agreement and a positive attitude.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ready

Indicates a state of being fully equipped or available for action.

prepared

Suggests readiness and capability to undertake a specific task.

inclined

Implies a tendency or leaning toward a particular action or belief.

agreeable

Emphasizes a pleasant or cooperative attitude toward a proposal.

disposed

Suggests a natural tendency or inclination, often implying a positive attitude.

consenting

Highlights the act of giving permission or approval.

amenable

Indicates openness and responsiveness to suggestions or influence.

game

Informal term suggesting enthusiasm and readiness to participate.

compliant

Implies obedience or adherence to rules or requests.

nothing loath

An older, slightly formal expression indicating readiness and enthusiasm.

FAQs

How to use "willing" in a sentence?

You can use "willing" to describe someone's readiness or consent to do something, like "I am "willing" to help with the project" or "She is "willing" to compromise".

What can I say instead of "willing"?

You can use alternatives like "ready", "inclined", or "agreeable" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "willing to help" or "willing in helping"?

"Willing to help" is the correct and more common construction. "Willing in helping" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "willing" and "eager"?

"Willing" implies a general readiness or consent, while "eager" suggests enthusiasm and excitement about doing something. Someone might be "willing" to do a task out of obligation, but they are "eager" to do it out of desire.