0%

at will

at will
A a

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [at wil]
    • /æt wɪl/
    • /ət wɪl/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [at wil]
    • /æt wɪl/

Definitions of at will words

  • phrase at will If you can do something at will, you can do it when you want and as much as you want. 3
  • noun at will at one's own desire, inclination, or choice 3
  • noun at will when one wishes; at one's discretion 3
  • noun at will the faculty of conscious and especially of deliberate action; the power of control the mind has over its own actions: the freedom of the will. 1
  • noun at will power of choosing one's own actions: to have a strong or a weak will. 1
  • noun at will the act or process of using or asserting one's choice; volition: My hands are obedient to my will. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of at will

First appearance:

before 900
One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; (noun) Middle English will(e), Old English will(a); cognate with Dutch wil, German Wille, Old Norse vili, Gothic wilja; (v.) Middle English willen, Old English willian to wish, desire, derivative of the noun; akin to will1

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for At will

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

at will popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 98% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

at will usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for at will

adj at will

  • improvise — to compose and perform or deliver without previous preparation; extemporize: to improvise an acceptance speech.
  • impromptu — made or done without previous preparation: an impromptu address to the unexpected crowds.
  • improvised — made or said without previous preparation: an improvised skit.
  • ad libitum — (to be performed) at the performer's discretion
  • made-up — concocted; falsely fabricated or invented: a made-up story.

adv at will

  • ad-lib — If you ad-lib something in a play or a speech, you say something which has not been planned or written beforehand.
  • freely — in a free manner.
  • impulsive — actuated or swayed by emotional or involuntary impulses: an impulsive child.
  • offhand — cavalierly, curtly, or brusquely: to reply offhand.

Antonyms for at will

adj at will

  • deliberate — If you do something that is deliberate, you planned or decided to do it beforehand, and so it happens on purpose rather than by chance.
  • planned — arranged, organized, or done in accordance with a plan: a planned attack.
  • prepared — properly expectant, organized, or equipped; ready: prepared for a hurricane.
  • written — a past participle of write.
  • bound — Bound is the past tense and past participle of bind.

See also

Matching words

Was this page helpful?
Yes No
Thank you for your feedback! Tell your friends about this page
Tell us why?