willingly

[ wil-ing-lee ]

adverb

1. in a consenting and often cheerful way:

   They volunteer for duty on faraway battlefields, willingly putting their lives on the line to fight and possibly die for their country.

Other Words From

• o·ver·wil·ling·ly adverb
• pre·wil·ling·ly adverb
• qua·si-wil·ling·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of willingly¹

First recorded before 900; equivalent to willing ( def ) + -ly ( def )

Example Sentences

After the trophy presentation, Orange Lutheran players failed in the first attempt to douse coach Kristen Sherman with ice water but Cook found another bucket and Sherman willingly “took one for the team.”

From Los Angeles Times

It’s rare for someone to willingly surrender power the way Biden did.

From Los Angeles Times

Nick Payne, the screenwriter of “We Live in Time,” says Garfield offered a plethora of suggestions to the script that the writer willingly incorporated.

From Los Angeles Times

“She has willingly aided individuals in our country who believe that violence is a way to make a point,” Matt Crane told the court.

From Los Angeles Times

Most appear to have joined up willingly, although some in the republic of Chechnya have told human rights activists and lawyers of coercion and threats.

From BBC

Related Words

• cheerfully
• freely
• readily
• voluntarily