will

1 /wIl/ (modal verb) verb

1 used to express the simple future tense: A meeting will be held next Tuesday at 3 p.m. | What time will she arrive? | When will you be leaving for America?

2 used to show that you are willing or ready to do something: I will come up and help you clear the attic in a moment. | Alma won't come to the party I'm sure. | Dr Weir will see you now.

3 used to ask someone to do something: Will you phone me later? | Shut the door will you?

4 used to say what always happens in a particular situation or what is generally true: Oil will float on water. | Accidents will happen.

5 used like `can' to show what is possible: This car will hold five people comfortably.

6 used like `must' to show what you think is likely to be true: That will be Tim coming home now.

7 used to order or tell someone angrily to do something: Will you two shut up for God's sake!

8 used to offer something to someone or to invite them to do something: Will you be staying the night?

9 used to describe someone's habits, especially when you find them strange or annoying: Trish will keep asking damn silly questions.

10 I will spoken used during a wedding ceremony to show that you agree formally to marry

2 noun

1 DETERMINATION (C, U) determination to do something that you have decided to do, even if this is difficult: Children sometimes have very strong wills. | the will to live/fight/succeed etc: The survivors never lost the will to live. | iron will (=very strong determination) | a battle/clash of wills (=when two people who both have strong wills oppose each other)

—see also: free will, strong­willed, weak­willed

2 LEGAL DOCUMENT (C) a legal document that says who you want your money and property to be given to after you die: make a will: Have you made a will yet? | in sb's will: My grandmother left me these jewels in her will.

3 WHAT SB WANTS (singular) what someone wants to happen in a particular situation: I wish he'd stop trying to impose his will on others. | obedience to God's will | against your will: The prisoner was made to sign a confession against his will.

4 with the best will in the world spoken used to say that something is not possible, however much you want to do it: With the best will in the world, I don't see what more I can do.

5 where there's a will there's a way spoken used to say that if you really want to do something, you will find a way to succeed

6 at will whenever you want and in whatever way you want: a terrifying creature that could change its shape at will

7 with a will in an eager and determined way

3 verb

1 (T) to try to make something happen by thinking about it very hard: will sb to do sth: She was willing herself not to cry.

2 (T) to officially give something that you own to someone else after you die

3 (I, T) old use to want something to happen: The King wills it.