1 [count] law : a legal document in which a person states who should receive his or her possessions after he or she dies
▪ In her will, she asked that her money be donated to the church. ▪ He made/prepared/wrote a will only days before his death. — see also living will 2 : a strong desire or determination to do something [count] ▪ She has a strong will. = She has a will of iron. = She has an iron will. ▪ He won the battle/clash of wills with his wife. [=he got what he wanted] — often followed by to + verb ▪ During her illness, she never lost her will to live/survive. ▪ He has the will to succeed. [=he has a strong desire to succeed] [noncount] ▪ He has no will of his own. ▪ Does he have the strength of will [=is he willing to work extremely hard] to complete such demanding training? — see also free will, strong-willed 3 [noncount] : a person's choice or desire in a particular situation
▪ They were obedient to the king's will. [=they did what the king wanted them to do] ▪ a government that reflects the will of the people ▪ As a child, he was forced to play the violin against his will. [=even though he did not want to play it] ▪ She chose to go against her parents' will and marry him anyway. [=she chose to marry him even though her parents did not want her to marry him] ▪ She is always trying to impose her will on other people. [=trying to force other people to do what she wants]
▪ In her will, she asked that her money be donated to the church. ▪ He made/prepared/wrote a will only days before his death. — see also living will
▪ They were obedient to the king's will. [=they did what the king wanted them to do] ▪ a government that reflects the will of the people ▪ As a child, he was forced to play the violin against his will. [=even though he did not want to play it] ▪ She chose to go against her parents' will and marry him anyway. [=she chose to marry him even though her parents did not want her to marry him] ▪ She is always trying to impose her will on other people. [=trying to force other people to do what she wants]
at will
: when you want or in a way that you want
▪ She is free to come and go at will. ▪ The document can be modified at will. ▪ The soldiers were told to fire at will.
▪ She is free to come and go at will. ▪ The document can be modified at will. ▪ The soldiers were told to fire at will.
where there's a will, there's a way
— used to say that if you want to do something very much, you can find a way to do it ▪ “Do you think she can finish the project on time?” “She can if she really wants to. Where there's a will, there's a way.”
with a will
: with a lot enthusiasm and energy
▪ She set about the work with a will.
▪ She set about the work with a will.
with the best will in the world
Brit : with the most sincere desire and effort to do something good or worthwhile — used especially to say that it is not possible to do something even if you want to do it very much ▪ Even with the best will in the world, the work cannot be done that quickly.




