will
[noun]
Synonyms:
- determination, purpose, resolution, resolve, willpower
- wish, desire, fancy, inclination, mind, preference, volition
- testament, last wishes
[verb]
Synonyms:
- wish, desire, prefer, see fit, want
- bequeath, confer, give, leave, pass on, transfer

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Contrasted words: aversion, dislike, distaste, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, gratification, indulgence, self-indulgence
Related Idioms: have a mind to, see (or think) fit, heart's desire
Related Words: crave, desire, want, appetite, passion, urge, hankering, longing, pining, yearning, design, intent, purpose, wishes, character, disposition, temper, aplomb, assurance, confidence, poise, self-possession, control, discretion, restraint

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

Will, George F.
(1941–) a US columnist for the Washington Post newspaper and for Newsweek magazine. His articles, usually on political subjects, are written from a conservative point of view.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

I. will¹ S1 W1 /wɪl/ modal verb (negative short form won’t)
[Language: Old English; Origin: wille, from wyllan 'to wish for, want, intend to']

1. FUTURE used to make future tenses:
A meeting will be held next Tuesday at 3 p.m.
What time will she arrive?
I hope they won’t be late.
Maybe by then you will have changed your mind.

2. WILLING TO DO SOMETHING used to show that someone is willing or ready to do something:
Dr Weir will see you now.
The baby won’t eat anything.

3. REQUESTING spoken used to ask someone to do something:
Will you phone me later?
Shut the door, will you?

4. WHAT GENERALLY HAPPENS used to say what always happens in a particular situation or what is generally true:
Oil will float on water.
Accidents will happen.

5. POSSIBILITY used like ‘can’ to show what is possible:
This car will hold five people comfortably.

6. BELIEF used to say that you think something is true:
That will be Tim coming home now.
As you will have noticed, there are some gaps in the data.

7. GIVING ORDERS spoken used to give an order or to state a rule:
Will you be quiet!
You will do as I say.
Every employee will carry an identity card at all times.

8. OFFERING/INVITING spoken used to offer something to someone or to invite them to do something:
Will you have some more tea?
Won’t you have a seat?

9. ANNOYING HABIT spoken used to describe someone’s habits, especially when you think they are annoying:
Trish will keep asking damn silly questions.


GRAMMAR
When you are reporting what someone said, thought etc, will usually changes to would:
My brother said he would help me.
If the event is still in the future, will is sometimes used, especially after a present perfect tense:
The Minister has said that he will publish the report soon.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. will² S2 W2 noun
[Language: Old English; Origin: willa 'will, desire']

1. DETERMINATION [uncountable and countable] determination to do something that you have decided to do, even if this is difficult:
Children sometimes have strong wills.
the will to do something
Even though she was in terrible pain, Mary never lost the will to live. ⇒ strong-willed, weak-willed

2. LEGAL DOCUMENT [countable] a legal document that says who you want your money and property to be given to after you die:
Have you made a will yet?
in sb’s will
My grandfather left me some money in his will.
the senator’s last will and testament

3. WHAT SOMEBODY WANTS [singular] what someone wants to happen in a particular situation:
He accused her of trying to impose her will on others.
against your will
Collier claims the police forced him to sign a confession against his will.
will of
the will of the people
obedience to God’s will ⇒ free will

4. with the best will in the world British English spoken used to say that something is not possible, even if you very much want to do it:
With the best will in the world, I don’t see what more I can do.

5. where there’s a will there’s a way spoken used to say that if you really want to do something, you will find a way to succeed

6. at will whenever you want and in whatever way you want:
He can’t just fire people at will, can he?

7. with a will written in an eager and determined way
⇒ goodwill, ill will

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. will³ verb
[Sense 1: Language: Old English; Origin: willian, from willa; ⇒ will²]
[Sense 2: Language: Old English; Origin: wyllan; ⇒ will¹]

1. [transitive] to try to make something happen by thinking about it very hard
will somebody to do something
She was willing herself not to cry.

2. [transitive + to] to officially give something that you own to someone else after you die

3. [intransitive and transitive] old use to want something to happen:
The King wills it.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

will
noun
I. power to choose; desire
ADJ. indomitable, iron, strong her indomitable will to win His unassuming matter concealed an iron will.
weak | free | conscious | collective, general, majority, national, popular, public Is that the general will, that we keep the present voting arrangements?
individual | human | divine, God's | royal | political The government lacked the political will to reform the tax system. (see also goodwill)
VERB + WILL have She's got a very strong will.
lack | exercise, exert | lose She's lost the will to try and change things.
break, drain, sap Constant rejection has sapped her will.
regain | impose She usually manages to impose her will on the rest of the group.
bend to, obey They were taught to obey their father's will without question.
go against My father didn't want me to leave home, and I didn't like to go against his will.
PREP. against your ~ Much against my will, I let him go.
at ~ She believes employers should have the right to hire and fire at will.
PHRASES an act of will It requires an act of will to make myself go running in the morning.
a battle/clash of wills The meeting turned out to be a clash of wills.
an effort of will With a great effort of will he resisted her pleas.
of your own free will She left of her own free will.
the will of God, the will to live She gradually regained the will to live.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

will
II. legal document
ADJ. valid Two people must witness your signature or your will will not be valid.
living (= a record of your wishes regarding medical treatment at the end of your life)
VERB + WILL draw up, make His solicitor drew up the will. Have you made your will?
sign | leave She left no will and was unmarried.
read | alter, change | revoke Remarriage would revoke all previous wills.
forge | remember sb in She was moved when her neighbour remembered her in his will.
administer, execute | challenge, contest The family decided to contest the will in court.
break, overturn, set aside They succeeded in getting the will overturned.
PREP. by ~ Some things cannot be given away by will.
in a/the ~ She left me some money in her will.
under a/the ~ Under her father's will, she gets £5,000 a year.
PHRASES sb's last will and testament

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

will

a strong will
She had a very strong will and a clear sense of purpose.
an indomitable will (=a strong will which means you do not give in)
The indomitable will of the people remains the core strength of democracy.
a weak will
It's a myth that people are fat because of a weak will.
an iron will (also a will of iron) (=an extremely strong will)
Her unassuming manner concealed an iron will.
political will (=determination on the part of governments and politicians)
There was a lack of political will to do anything about global warming.
strength of will
She had achieved success by sheer strength of will.
an effort of will (=a determined effort to do something you do not want to do)
With a great effort of will, she resisted the temptation to look at the letter.
a battle/clash/test of wills (=when two determined people oppose each other)
Even the smallest decision could become an exhausting battle of wills.
have the will to do something (=be determined enough to do it)
Do you have the will to win?
lack the will to do something
He lacked the will to resist.
lose the will to do something
The country's troops had lost the will to fight.
make a will (=write one)
It is always advisable to make a will.
leave a will (=have made a will when you die)
Who will inherit my property if I don't leave a will?
change your will (=change some of the instructions in your will)
Marius had decided to change his will in her favour.
cut somebody out of your will (=change your will so that someone is no longer given anything when you die)
His father cut her out of his will.
prove a will law (=to show that a will has been made in the correct way)
If the estate is small, you may not need to prove the will.
somebody's last will and testament formal (=somebody's will)
the executor of a will (=the person who makes sure that the instructions in someone's will are followed)
Her eldest son is the executor of her will.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

will
modal verb
1.
BAD: When capital punishment was abolished, people thought that murders will become more numerous.
GOOD: When capital punishment was abolished, people thought that murders would become more numerous.

Usage Note:
A reporting verb in the past tense (e.g. 'thought') is usually followed by would/could (NOT will/can ). Compare: 'I think she will accept any job that comes along.' 'I thought she would accept any job that came along.'

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2.
BAD: If a developing country will become a developed country, it has to attract foreign investors.
GOOD: If a developing country is to become a developed country, it has to attract foreign investors.

Usage Note:
When you are talking about what must happen in order to make something possible, use if ... am/is/are to do sth (NOT will ): 'If we are to get there by six o'clock, we'll have to get a taxi.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

will
̈ɪwɪl
See: at will , of one's own accord or of one's own free will

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲