willingness to act

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "willingness to act" is grammatically correct and in common use in written English.
You can use it to refer to someone's openness and eagerness to take action or to do something. For example: "Her willingness to act on her convictions was admirable".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mr Bush must still value Mr Gonzales's willingness to act as a White House goon.

The Economist

It has also increased their willingness to act as stern monitors rather than chummy advisers.

The Economist

"Lisbon reinforces our capacity to act, but at least as important is our willingness to act".

The Economist

Many executives are praising him for his creativity and willingness to act boldly.

The New York Times

Mr. Kerry had argued that it was worth testing the Russians on their willingness to act.

The New York Times

The Fed's decision last week to start buying mortgage debt shows its willingness to act creatively.

The New York Times

American and Europe share a revulsion at tyranny and a willingness to act against it.

The Guardian

That, say lots of outside critics, will be never.Nonetheless, Mr Thain's willingness to act is a cause for optimism.

The Economist

The level of hand-wringing diminished, and the willingness to act improved somewhat, during Clinton's second term.

The New Yorker

The Brothers woefully underestimated civic Egypt's power to mould public opinion, and the army's willingness to act.

The Economist

And most countries' willingness to act is presumably linked to the severity of global warming's ill effects.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a group's collective attitude, use "willingness to act" to highlight their shared commitment and readiness.

Common error

Avoid using "willingness to act" when describing a purely passive intention; ensure there's an implication of potential or actual action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "willingness to act" functions as a noun phrase typically used as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to the state of being prepared and favorably disposed toward taking action. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

29%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "willingness to act" is a grammatically correct and commonly used noun phrase that expresses readiness and eagerness to take action. Ludwig AI confirms this. Its usage spans across various contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. With numerous authoritative sources employing the phrase, it’s clear that "willingness to act" is a valuable and versatile expression for conveying a proactive and responsible attitude. When writing, remember that, while “desire to act” is a similar phrase, it does not hold the same sense of accountability and responsibility; using “willingness to act” implies a higher level of commitment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

readiness to act

Focuses on the state of being prepared and available to take action.

inclination to act

Emphasizes a tendency or predisposition toward taking action.

propensity to act

Highlights a natural or inherent inclination to act.

eagerness to act

Stresses enthusiasm and a strong desire to take action.

determination to act

Underscores a firm resolve and commitment to taking action.

resolve to act

Emphasizes a firm decision and commitment to take action despite potential obstacles.

motivation to act

Highlights the underlying reasons or incentives for taking action.

initiative to act

Focuses on taking the first step or starting something without being prompted.

disposition to act

Refers to a person's inherent qualities of mind and character that affect willingness.

intent to act

Highlights the purpose and planned manner to take action.

FAQs

How can I use "willingness to act" in a sentence?

You can use "willingness to act" to describe someone's readiness or eagerness to take action. For example: "The company's "willingness to act" decisively led to its success".

What are some alternatives to "willingness to act"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "readiness to act", "inclination to act", or "determination to act".

What does "willingness to act" imply?

"Willingness to act" implies a positive attitude and a readiness to take action or responsibility when needed. It suggests someone is not hesitant and is prepared to engage actively.

Is there a difference between "willingness to act" and "desire to act"?

While similar, "willingness to act" implies a readiness and acceptance of responsibility, whereas "desire to act" simply indicates a wish or longing without necessarily implying readiness or acceptance of responsibility. The phrase "willingness to act" suggests an active commitment.