WILL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does will mean? 

• WILL (noun)
  The noun WILL has 3 senses:

1. the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention

2. a fixed and persistent intent or purpose

3. a legal document declaring a person's wishes regarding the disposal of their property when they die

  Familiarity information: WILL used as a noun is uncommon.

• WILL (verb)
  The verb WILL has 3 senses:

1. decree or ordain

2. determine by choice

3. leave or give by will after one's death

  Familiarity information: WILL used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WILL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The capability of conscious choice and decision and intention

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

volition; will

Context example:

the exercise of their volition we construe as revolt

Hypernyms ("will" is a kind of...):

faculty; mental faculty; module (one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "will"):

velleity (volition in its weakest form)

Derivation:

will (determine by choice)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A fixed and persistent intent or purpose

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

where there's a will there's a way

Hypernyms ("will" is a kind of...):

aim; design; intent; intention; purpose (an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions)

Derivation:

will (determine by choice)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A legal document declaring a person's wishes regarding the disposal of their property when they die

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

testament; will

Hypernyms ("will" is a kind of...):

instrument; legal document; legal instrument; official document ((law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right)

Meronyms (parts of "will"):

codicil (a supplement to a will; a testamentary instrument intended to alter an already executed will)

Domain category:

jurisprudence; law (the collection of rules imposed by authority)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "will"):

Old Testament (the collection of books comprising the sacred scripture of the Hebrews and recording their history as the chosen people; the first half of the Christian Bible)

New Testament (the collection of books of the Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, the Pauline and other epistles, and Revelation; composed soon after Christ's death; the second half of the Christian Bible)

devise (a will disposing of real property)

Derivation:

will (leave or give by will after one's death)

• WILL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they will    ... he / she / it wills   
Past simple: willed   
Past participle: willed   
-ing form: willing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Decree or ordain

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

God wills our existence

Hypernyms (to "will" is one way to...):

ordain (issue an order)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Sense 2

Meaning:

Determine by choice

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Context example:

This action was willed and intended

Hypernyms (to "will" is one way to...):

decide; determine; make up one's mind (reach, make, or come to a decision about something)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

will (the capability of conscious choice and decision and intention)

will (a fixed and persistent intent or purpose)

willing (the act of making a choice)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Leave or give by will after one's death

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Synonyms:

bequeath; leave; will

Context example:

My grandfather left me his entire estate

Hypernyms (to "will" is one way to...):

gift; give; present (give as a present; make a gift of)

Verb group:

leave; leave behind (be survived by after one's death)

give; impart; leave; pass on (transmit (knowledge or skills))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "will"):

devise (give by will, especially real property)

pass on (give to or transfer possession of)

remember (show appreciation to)

entail; fee-tail (limit the inheritance of property to a specific class of heirs)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody something
Somebody ----s something to somebody

Sentence examples:

They will the money to them
They will them the money

Derivation:

will (a legal document declaring a person's wishes regarding the disposal of their property when they die)

 Context examples 

What does he do to Mobits? I will tell you, O White Man. He has a house. He puts Mobits in that house.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

There are seven boats aboard, the captain’s dingey, and the six which the hunters will use.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

You will find me at the Langham under the name of the Count Von Kramm.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“—Will have a thing done, I will have it done,” repeated the man with the wooden leg.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

I trust that your journey from London has been a happy one, and that you will enjoy your stay in my beautiful land.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

Martin considered for a moment, then answered, "Perhaps that will do, but with me I guess it's different. I never have cared—much. If you can put it on, it's all right, most likely."

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

You will never have cause to regret it.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"I wonder if they will fit me," she said to Toto.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

“You will hear and see enough before morning,” he answered.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Come, Bessie, we will leave her: I wouldn't have her heart for anything.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)