will

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Used to express the future tense, sometimes with an implication of volition or…

   Used to express the future tense, sometimes with an implication of volition or determination when used in the first person. Compare shall.

   • Do not forget, will you?
   • Will you be doing the shopping this evening? If so, will you do mine too, please?
   • Won't you have another glass of wine? — No, I think I’ll go to bed.
2. 2

   To be able to, to have the capacity to.

   • Unfortunately, only one of these gloves will actually fit over my hand.
3. 3

   Expressing a present tense or perfect tense with some conditional or subjective weakening

   Expressing a present tense or perfect tense with some conditional or subjective weakening: "will turn out to", "must by inference".

   • He will be home by now. He always gets home before 6 o'clock.
   • I can't find my umbrella. I will've left it at home this morning.
   • I’ll kill anybody who touches my car.
4. ›+ 18 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To habitually do (a given action).

      • Boys will be boys.
      • People will talk.
      • I will fall in love with the wrong women time and again.
   2. 5

      To choose or agree to (do something)

      To choose or agree to (do something); used to express intention but without any temporal connotations, often in questions and negation.

      • Will you marry me?
      • What will you drink?
      • I’ve told him three times, but he won’t take his medicine.
   3. 6

      To wish, desire (something).

      • Do what you will.
      • God willed it.
      • If thou wilt fare well at meat and meal, come and follow me.
   4. 7

      To wish or desire (that something happen)

      To wish or desire (that something happen); to intend (that).

      • Consider, if you will, the possibility that the sherry glasses were misplaced accidentally.
      • the disciples cam to Jesus sayinge unto hym: where wylt thou that we prepare for the to eate the ester lambe?
      • see God's goodwill toward men, hear how generally his grace is proposed, to him, and him, and them, each man in particular, and to all. 1 Tim. ii. 4. "God will that all men be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth."
   5. 8

      Implying will go.

      • I’ll to England.
   6. 9

      One's independent faculty of choice

      One's independent faculty of choice; the ability to be able to exercise one's choice or intention.

      • Of course, man's will is often regulated by his reason.
   7. 10

      The act of choosing to do something

      The act of choosing to do something; a person’s conscious intent or volition.

      • Most creatures have a will to live.
      • The father chose the name and could change it later at his will.
   8. 11

      One's intention or decision

      One's intention or decision; someone's orders or commands.

      • Eventually I submitted to my parents' will.
      • In the first place, although many people wanted nationalisation and it became the will of Parliament, there were many other people who did not want it, have never willingly accepted it, and never will.
   9. 12

      Firmness of purpose, fixity of intent

      • ...surely the link could not have been with Churchill the brilliant, gallant and steadfast wartime leader who, by dint of character, will and language, turned near defeat into victory.
   10. 13

       A formal declaration of one's intent concerning the disposal of one's property and…

       A formal declaration of one's intent concerning the disposal of one's property and holdings after death; the legal document stating such wishes.

       • “Uncle Barnaby was always father and mother to me,” Benson broke in; then after a pause his mind flew off at a tangent. “Is old Hannah all right—in the will, I mean?”
   11. 14

       That which is desired

       That which is desired; one's wish.

       • I auow by this most sacred head / Of my deare foster child, to ease thy griefe, / And win thy will [...].
   12. 15

       Desire, longing. (Now generally merged with later senses.)

       • He felt a great will to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
   13. 16

       To instruct (that something be done) in one's will.

   14. 17

       To bequeath (something) to someone in one's will (legal document).

       • He willed his stamp collection to the local museum.
   15. 18

       To exert one's force of will (intention) in order to compel, or attempt to compel,…

       To exert one's force of will (intention) in order to compel, or attempt to compel, something to happen or someone to do something.

       • All the fans were willing their team to win the game.
       • They willed me say so, madam.
       • Send for music, / And will the cooks to use their best of cunning / To please the palate.
   16. 19

       A diminutive of the male given name William or, less often, other given names beginning…

       A diminutive of the male given name William or, less often, other given names beginning with Wil-, such as Wilfred or Willard, from the Germanic languages; also used as a formal given name.

       • Make but my name thy loue, and loue that ſtill, / And then thou loueſt me for my name is Will.
   17. 20

       A surname originating as a patronymic.

   18. 21

       A weak-side linebacker.

       • Will linebacker drops to turn-in, QB dropping dumps the ball off to HB.
       • Our Will linebacker, because he is away from the formation or to the split end, should be a great pursuit man and pass defender. Will covers the back side hook zone on the weak side.

The neighborhood

• neighborbequeath
• neighborgoing to
• neighbormodal verb
• neighbornimblewill
• neighbortestament
• neighborvolition
• neighborvoluntary
• neighborwill-fire
• neighborwill o' the wisp