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 Word Forms

• overwillingly adverb
• prewillingly adverb
• quasi-willingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of willingly¹

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

Example Sentences

“I feel kind of defensive right now, more so a test of my character, like I’m going to willingly do that,” Trammell said.

From Los Angeles Times

Like Peer Gynt in search of a greater truth, Oliphant willingly pitted himself against larger-than-life beasts and lived to tell the tale.

From Salon

He’s a black hole of a human being who will never willingly give up the presidency unless someone offers him the title and power of world leader.

From Salon

It is not a choice either side would willingly make.

From BBC

The White House named the price — 15% of their revenues from such sales — and the companies assented willingly.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cheerfully www.thesaurus.com
• freely 
• readily 
• voluntarily