Word
voluntarily
Phoneticsvol·un·tar·i·ly, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌvɑɫənˈtɛɹəɫi/
UK/vˌɒləntˈɛɹəli/
Adverb of manner
Definition
adv. to do something because you want to, not because someone forces you or pays you. You use this when you choose to help or act on your own.
adv. of one's own free will or accord, without legal or physical compulsion. Often used in legal or formal contexts to distinguish between mandatory and optional actions.
Examples
“She voluntarily offered to help with the cleaning.”
“The witness came forward voluntarily to provide a statement to the police about the accident.”
“The corporation voluntarily adopted stricter environmental standards ahead of the new legislation to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable practices.”
Examples
simple
“She voluntarily offered to help with the cleaning.”
contextual
“The witness came forward voluntarily to provide a statement to the police about the accident.”
complex
“The corporation voluntarily adopted stricter environmental standards ahead of the new legislation to demonstrate its commitment to sustainable practices.”
Usage
Typically follows the verb it modifies or appears at the end of the clause.
Pitfall
He did it voluntary
He did it voluntarily
Learners often use the adjective 'voluntary' where the adverb 'voluntarily' is required to modify an action.
Real-World Examples
“For example, companies can voluntarily commit to environmental impact goals in hopes of attracting sustainability-minded investors and lowering the cost of capital.” “He was released only after his lawyer, Elizabeth Shaw, secured an agreement allowing him to leave the country voluntarily.” Etymology
From voluntary + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/voluntarily