Word
willingness
Phoneticswill·ing·ness
US/ˈwɪɫɪŋnəs/
UK/wˈɪlɪŋnəs/
Definition
n. the quality of being happy or ready to do something. It shows you are not forced and are doing it because you want to help or participate.
n. the state or quality of being prepared or ready to act; a disposition to comply with a request or requirement without reluctance.
Examples
“She showed a great willingness to learn new skills.”
“The success of the project depends on the team's willingness to work overtime during the final week.”
“A genuine willingness to compromise is often the only bridge between two parties whose ideological differences appear, on the surface, to be entirely irreconcilable.”
Examples
simple
“She showed a great willingness to learn new skills.”
contextual
“The success of the project depends on the team's willingness to work overtime during the final week.”
complex
“A genuine willingness to compromise is often the only bridge between two parties whose ideological differences appear, on the surface, to be entirely irreconcilable.”
Usage
Commonly followed by a 'to' infinitive ('willingness to help') or the preposition 'of'.
Pitfall
his willingness for helping
his willingness to help
Willingness is followed by a 'to' infinitive, not the preposition 'for' with a gerund.
Real-World Examples
Common in history writing
“Researchers examined whether a brief conversation about safer firearm storage could increase willingness to use temporary out-of-home storage during times of distress.” “The recent reshuffle in Iran’s national security apparatus suggests a tougher stance in future talks and less willingness to back down, particularly on control of Hormuz.” “Differences still reduced willingness for close relationships, but framing disagreements as disputes over facts may intensify conflict.” Etymology
From willing + -ness.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/willingness