voluntarily
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.
“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.”
Typically follows the verb it modifies or appears at the end of the clause.
Learners often use the adjective 'voluntary' where the adverb 'voluntarily' is required to modify an action.
“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.”
From voluntary + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.