From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishwillwill1 /wɪl/ ●●● S1 W1 modal verb (negative short form won’t) 1 WILLfuture used to make future tenses A meeting will be held next Tuesday at 3 p.m. What time will she arrive? I hope they won’t be late. Maybe by then you will have changed your mind.2 WILLINGwilling to do something used to show that someone is willing or ready to do something Dr Weir will see you now. The baby won’t eat anything.3 ASK FOR something/ASK somebody TO DO somethingrequesting spoken used to ask someone to do something Will you phone me later? Shut the door, will you?4 USUALLYwhat generally happens used to say what always happens in a particular situation or what is generally true Oil will float on water. Accidents will happen.5 POSSIBLEpossibility used like ‘can’ to show what is possible This car will hold five people comfortably. 6 THINK SO/NOT BE SUREbelief used to say that you think something is true That will be Tim coming home now. As you will have noticed, there are some gaps in the data.7 TELL/ORDER somebody TO DO somethinggiving orders spoken used to give an order or to state a rule Will you be quiet! You will do as I say. Every employee will carry an identity card at all times.8 OFFERoffering/inviting spoken used to offer something to someone or to invite them to do something Will you have some more tea? Won’t you have a seat?9 OFTENannoying habit spoken used to describe someone’s habits, especially when you think they are annoying Trish will keep asking silly questions.GRAMMAR: Choosing the right tense• You use will when talking about the future: I’m sure the party will be a big success. • Usually will changes to would when reporting what someone said or thought: She said she was sure that the party would be a big success.• If the event is still in the future, will is sometimes used, especially after the present perfect tense: Lots of people have said they will come to the party.
Examples from the Corpus
will• The conference will be held in San Antonio.• Nancy will keep talking unless you tell her to shut up.• What time will you get here?• Will you stir the soup while I go downstairs?• Will you two please stop fighting!willwill2 ●●● S2 W2 noun 1 determination [countable, uncountable]DETERMINED determination to do something that you have decided to do, even if this is difficult Children sometimes have strong wills.the will to do something Even though she was in terrible pain, Mary never lost the will to live. → strong-willed, weak-willed2 legal document [countable]SCLMX a legal document that says who you want your money and property to be given to after you die Have you made a will yet?in somebody’s will My grandfather left me some money in his will. the senator’s last will and testament3 what somebody wants [singular]WANT what someone wants to happen in a particular situation He accused her of trying to impose her will on others.against your will Collier claims the police forced him to sign a confession against his will.will of the will of the people obedience to God’s will → free will4 → with the best will in the world5 → where there’s a will there’s a way6 → at will7 → with a will → goodwill, ill willCOLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: determination to do something that you have decided to do, even if this is difficultadjectivesa strong willShe had a very strong will and a clear sense of purpose.an indomitable will (=a strong will which means you do not give in)The indomitable will of the people remains the core strength of democracy.a weak willIt's a myth that people are fat because of a weak will.an iron will (also a will of iron) (=an extremely strong will)Her unassuming manner concealed an iron will.political will (=determination on the part of governments and politicians)There was a lack of political will to do anything about global warming.phrasesstrength of willShe had achieved success by sheer strength of will.an effort of will (=a determined effort to do something you do not want to do)With a great effort of will, she resisted the temptation to look at the letter.a battle/clash/test of wills (=when two determined people oppose each other)Even the smallest decision could become an exhausting battle of wills.verbshave the will to do something (=be determined enough to do it)Do you have the will to win?lack the will to do somethingHe lacked the will to resist.lose the will to do somethingThe country's troops had lost the will to fight. COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: a legal document that says who you want your money and property to be given to after you dieverbsmake a will (=write one)It is always advisable to make a will.leave a will (=have made a will when you die)Who will inherit my property if I don't leave a will?change your will (=change some of the instructions in your will)Marius had decided to change his will in her favour.cut somebody out of your will (=change your will so that someone is no longer given anything when you die)His father cut her out of his will.prove a will law (=to show that a will has been made in the correct way)If the estate is small, you may not need to prove the will.phrasessomebody's last will and testament formal (=someone's will)the executor of a will (=the person who makes sure that the instructions in someone's will are followed)Her eldest son is the executor of her will. Examples from the Corpus
will• He made a will just hours before he died.• But her durability, her will to survive, were attractive, and 1 liked her very much.• Mrs Williams left her daughter $200,000 in her will.• When Henrietta told her father that she was going to marry Weinberger, he threatened to cut her out of his will.• What a display of grandeur and sheer force of will!• But other political analysts suggested that Milosevic was staging a final test of wills before giving in.• I guess it's just God's will.• Even as a baby, Joseph had a strong will.• Toddlers have strong wills but have yet to learn self-control.• When her husband died, she seemed to lose the will to live.• According to Hobbes, law is a command, the expression of the will of the sovereign.• They weren't the best side in the European Cup, but they possessed the will to win.made ... will• Whatever happens, any tax relief obtained on donations you have already made will not be lost.• If you have already made a will, it is worth reviewing it with your solicitor every few years.• He said park reservations that have already been made will be honored through mid-January.• He had made a will about 21 years earlier and in it left a legacy of £100 to Mrs Violet Peppercorn.• Not to have made a Will can only add to that stress.• Mrs Wordingham herself made a will in 1975.• In traditional public finance, the form in which the grant is made will influence the expenditure of local authorities.• She made a will and I understand she left her property to the two children of the marriage.• Have you made a will yet?impose ... will• I want to avoid contaminating the answer by imposing my will but simply watch patiently and see.• He had imposed his will, or the will of the Scarabae on her.• Its accumulated knowledge will decay and the order it has imposed will vanish.• In the past, national presidents have imposed their will on the party, not only determining policies but leaders.• But the general ban on animal movements imposed last Friday will be extended for at least a further two weeks.• An army of Slaanesh worshippers would be available to impose his will on the leaderless Elves. willwill3 verb 1 [transitive]CAUSE to try to make something happen by thinking about it very hardwill somebody to do something She was willing herself not to cry.2 [transitive + to]SCLGIVE to officially give something that you own to someone else after you die3 [intransitive, transitive] old useWANT to want something to happen The King wills it.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
will• One wonders, given the present unionist leadership, if it ever will.• Which we will, in a moment.• As the Internet gathers pace, so too will its impact on the political scene.• In future, the link between them will no doubt be found.• Only when they have reached stalemate with the bank will the ombudsman then consider a claim.• Wilson established a fine collection of artworks, which he willed to Peale's Museum.From Longman Business Dictionarywillwill1 /wɪl/ noun [countable]LAW a legal document that says who you want your money and property to be given to when you dieThey found a lawyer to draft their wills.This is the last will and testament of John Smith. → living will → see also tenant at willwillwill2 verb [transitive]LAW to leave something to someone in your willTaylor willed £604,521 to his family.→ See Verb tableOrigin will1 Old English wille, from wyllan “to wish for, want, intend to” will2 Old English willa “will, desire” will3 1. Old English willian, from willa; → WILL22. Old English wyllan; → WILL1 