/ wɪl; NAmE / modal verb , verb , noun
■ modal verb ( short form 'll / l; NAmE /, negative will not , short form won't / wəʊnt; NAmE /, pt would / wəd; NAmE ; strong form wʊd/, short form 'd / d; NAmE /, negative would not , short form wouldn't / ˈwʊdnt; NAmE /)
1.
used for talking about or predicting the future :
You'll be in time if you hurry.
How long will you be staying in Paris?
Fred said he'd be leaving soon.
By next year all the money will have been spent.
2.
used for showing that sb is willing to do sth :
I'll check this letter for you, if you want.
They won't lend us any more money.
He wouldn't come—he said he was too busy.
We said we would keep them.
3.
used for asking sb to do sth :
Will you send this letter for me, please?
You'll water the plants while I'm away, won't you?
I asked him if he wouldn't mind calling later.
4.
used for ordering sb to do sth :
You'll do it this minute!
Will you be quiet!
5.
used for stating what you think is probably true :
That'll be the doctor now.
You'll have had dinner already, I suppose.
6.
used for stating what is generally true :
If it's made of wood it will float.
Engines won't run without lubricants.
7.
used for stating what is true or possible in a particular case :
This jar will hold a kilo.
The door won't open!
8.
used for talking about habits :
She'll listen to music, alone in her room, for hours.
He would spend hours on the telephone.
HELP NOTE : If you put extra stress on the word will or would in this meaning, it shows that the habit annoys you:
He ˈwill comb his hair at the table, even though he knows I don't like it.
➡ note at modal , shall
■ verb
[ v wh- ] ( third person sing.pres.t. will ) (only used in the simple present tense) ( old-fashioned or formal ) to want or like :
Call it what you will, it's still a problem.
■ verb
1.
to use the power of your mind to do sth or to make sth happen :
[ vn ]
As a child he had thought he could fly, if he willed it enough.
[ vn to inf ]
She willed her eyes to stay open.
He willed himself not to panic.
2.
( old use ) to intend or want sth to happen :
[ vn ]
They thought they had been victorious in battle because God had willed it.
[also v that ]
3.
will sth (to sb) | will sb sth to formally give your property or possessions to sb after you have died, by means of a will noun (3) :
[ vnn , vn ]
Joe had willed them everything he possessed.
Joe had willed everything he possessed to them.
■ noun
1.
[ C , U ] the ability to control your thoughts and actions in order to achieve what you want to do; a feeling of strong determination to do sth that you want to do :
to have a strong will
to have an iron will / a will of iron
Her decision to continue shows great strength of will.
In spite of what happened, he never lost the will to live .
The meeting turned out to be a clash of wills .
She always wants to impose her will on other people (= to get what she wants) .
—see also free will , willpower
2.
[ sing. ] what sb wants to happen in a particular situation :
I don't want to go against your will.
( formal )
It is God's will.
3.
(also tes·ta·ment ) [ C ] a legal document that says what is to happen to sb's money and property after they die :
I ought to make a will .
My father left me the house in his will.
—see also living will
4.
-willed (in adjectives) having the type of will mentioned :
a strong-willed young woman
weak-willed greedy people
•
IDIOMS
- against your will
- at will
- where there's a will there's a way
- with a will
- with the best will in the world
••
WORD ORIGIN
modal verb Old English wyllan , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch willen , German wollen , from an Indo-European root shared by Latin velle will, wish.
verb and noun Old English willa (noun), willian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wil , German Wille (nouns), also to the modal verb will and the adverb well .