willpower

or will pow·er

[ wil-poh-er ]

noun

1. control of one's impulses and actions; self-control.

willpower

/ ˈwɪlˌpaʊə /

noun

1. the ability to control oneself and determine one's actions
2. firmness of will

Word History and Origins

Origin of willpower¹

First recorded in 1870–75; will ²( def ) + power ( def )

Example Sentences

The willpower to build more housing often falters in the face of apparently prohibitive costs, political opposition and self-serving incentives, a reality that is playing out on the state and local level.

From Salon

Sam Bemment, who wrote the report, says the technology for a simple ticketing system already exists but that historically there hasn’t been enough political willpower to put it in place.

From BBC

"Scandinavian countries have already created much gentler working environments, so there are models for India to follow. All it needs is willpower."

From BBC

It's a big victory for the cause of willpower.

From Salon

But don't beat yourself up – relying on willpower alone is hard for almost everyone.

From Salon

Related Words

• firmness
• grit
• self-control
• self-discipline