will

Will
Will, George F.
(1941–) a US columnist for the Washington Post newspaper and for Newsweek magazine. His articles, usually on political subjects, are written from a conservative point of view.

will

I

will¹ S1 W1 /wɪl/ modal verb (negative short form won’t)1.  FUTURE 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.  WILLING 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.  REQUESTING spoken used to ask someone to do something:
    Will you phone me later?
    Shut the door, will you?
4.  WHAT 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.  POSSIBILITY used like ‘can’ to show what is possible:
    This car will hold five people comfortably.
6.  BELIEF 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.  GIVING 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.  OFFERING/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.  ANNOYING HABIT spoken used to describe someone’s habits, especially when you think they are annoying:
    Trish will keep asking damn silly questions.
     
GRAMMAR
  When you are reporting what someone said, thought etc, will usually changes to would:
  ▪ My brother said he would help me.
  If the event is still in the future, will is sometimes used, especially after a present perfect tense:
  ▪ The Minister has said that he will publish the report soon.

II

will² S2 W2 noun1.  DETERMINATION  [uncountable and countable] 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-willed
2.  LEGAL DOCUMENT  [countable] 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 sb’s will
    My grandfather left me some money in his will.
    the senator’s last will and testament
3.  WHAT SOMEBODY WANTS  [singular] 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 will
4. with the best will in the world British English spoken used to say that something is not possible, even if you very much 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:
    He can’t just fire people at will, can he?
7. with a will written in an eager and determined way
⇨ goodwill, ill will
     

COLLOCATIONS

(for Meaning 1)

■ adjectives
   ▪ a strong will She 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 will It'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.
■ phrases
   ▪ strength of will She 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.
■ verbs
   ▪ have the will to do something (=be determined enough to do it) Do you have the will to win?
   ▪ lack the will to do something He lacked the will to resist.
   ▪ lose the will to do something The country's troops had lost the will to fight.
     

COLLOCATIONS

(for Meaning 2)

■ verbs
   ▪ make 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.
■ phrases
   ▪ somebody's last will and testament formal (=somebody'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.

III

will³ verb1. [transitive] to try to make something happen by thinking about it very hard
    will somebody to do something
    She was willing herself not to cry.
2. [transitive + to] to officially give something that you own to someone else after you die
3. [intransitive and transitive] old use to want something to happen:
    The King wills it.