Willing

Willing is an adjective meaning ready or disposed to do something, often indicating voluntary consent or a cooperative attitude. A person who is willing is inclined to comply or help, and an action described as willing typically implies voluntary effort rather than obligation. The phrase to be willing to is common, as in “She was willing to help” or “They are willing to negotiate.” The term can also describe a general disposition, such as a “willing participant” in a project.

Grammar and usage: Willing is used with a following to-infinitive (to help, to compromise). It can modify nouns (a willing helper) or appear with adverbs to adjust emphasis (completely willing). It is often contrasted with unwilling or reluctant. The noun form is willingness, which denotes the quality or state of being willing, as in “There is a high willingness to participate.”

Etymology and related terms: Willing derives from the idea of will or desire. It traces through Old English will, willa, and the verb willian; the -ing form produced the adjective we use today. Related terms include willingness and the expression “to be willing and able.” In contemporary usage, will­ing emphasizes attitude and voluntary action, while unwilling highlights a lack of readiness or consent. The concept appears across everyday language, education, and social science contexts, including phrases such as willingness to pay or willingness to participate.