How to Use will in a Sentence

will

1 of 2 noun
Definition of willnext
Synonyms for willnext
  • In her will, she asked that her money be donated to the church.
  • But the politicians don’t have the will or courage to fix it.
    — George Skelton, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2024
  • For me, part of the longevity is a will to live and a desire to live.
    — Masha Gessen, The New Yorker, 12 Nov. 2023
  • But there’s one thing that will never stop, and that’s the will.
    — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024
  • But there's one thing that will never stop, and that's the will.
    — Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 22 Apr. 2024
  • The two of us have been going back and forth about our will.
    — Cincinnati Enquirer, The Enquirer, 8 Sep. 2023
  • That is the law in Florida based on the will of the voters.
    — Greg Hyatt, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2023
  • His words, just waiting for God's will and the weather.
    — CBS News, 30 Apr. 2023
  • At that point, any physical will was just out the door.
    — Ilana Kaplan, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024
  • By the finale, the god of mischief had honed his skills to control time at will.
    — Michaela Zee, Variety, 13 Nov. 2023
  • Bless your church throughout the world, and all those who seek to do your will today.
    — Jorie Nicole McDonald, Southern Living, 31 Jan. 2024
  • Elections are by and large fair and honest and reflect the will of the people.
    — Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2024
  • If conditions are drier, the beans won’t grow, but the corn will.
    — Simeon Tegel, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2024
  • The Dodgers have been the team that scores at will, dancing on the basepaths and celebrating in the dugout.
    — The Arizona Republic, 9 Apr. 2023
  • Your friends and colleagues might not like me for this one, but your mental health will.
    — Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Jan. 2024
  • Not even the president can bend the internet to his will.
    — Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2024
  • At the heart of the legal dispute were two separate wills.
    — Virginia Langmaid, CNN, 11 July 2023
  • The good news is that data does not rule, but one’s pocketbook will.
    — Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2024
  • The partner left no will or trust or anything in writing.
    — Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2023
  • If the go-to caffeine and hype music just aren’t doing it for you, maybe some words of wisdom from the greats will.
    — Ariel Scotti, Men's Health, 26 July 2023
  • His shot-making in the first quarter was huge to keep pace with the Lakers, who were scoring at will.
    — Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 21 Apr. 2024
  • The Bene Gesserit use something called the Voice to bend others to their will and sense others' emotions.
    — Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 4 May 2024
  • The 49ers kicked a field goal on the opening drive, then the ball went back to Detroit, who, in the first half, had been moving downfield almost at will.
    — Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 11 Feb. 2024
  • And wars of attrition go on as long as both sides have the capability and the will to fight.
    — David Remnick, The New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2023
  • Part of that sensation is just a matter of being in the zone, which few can summon it at will.
    — Phil Bourjaily, Field & Stream, 21 Mar. 2024
  • All this music suggests a will to create that may outlast the will to destroy.
    — Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 29 Jan. 2024
  • The victim’s boyfriend threatened to kill her, pinning her body down with his against her will for five minutes.
    — Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024
  • My younger brother passed away without a will and most of his accounts were online.
    — Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2023
  • Estate Plan Many clients have a will and one or more trusts as part of their estate documents.
    — Todd Sixt, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
  • In theory, these answers reflect the will of the polity.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2023
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will

2 of 2 verb
  • Cheryl Lee Carr clutched her phone, willing it to ring.
    — Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 9 Aug. 2023
  • Mohican Sachem Chief Joshua willed the land to 16 men, most of whom resided in Norwich.
    — Melanie Savage, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2024
  • But Sabalenka willed her way back, forcing a tiebreaker in the second set, and then again in the third set.
    — Jesus Jiménez, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2023
  • John Holcombe 1 of 4 Holcombe smells his late wife's robe, willing her scent to return to the fabric.
    — Holly Bailey, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2023
  • The Russians were lying prostrate, as if willing themselves to meld in with the ruins around them.
    — Bob Seely, Foreign Affairs, 24 Nov. 2023
  • Taylor had already willed the Colts back into the game, strapped them to his back and hauled his team into a game that looked like a mismatch for most of the first half.
    — The Indianapolis Star, 7 Jan. 2024
  • That should have been the end of that, but the internet proceeded to do its thing and willed the product into existence.
    — Chris Morris, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2024
  • The 2014 document, in addition to willing the main house to Kecalf, calls for royalties and bank funds to be split among the three youngest sons.
    — Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 11 July 2023
  • Barrett Hayton completely willed the puck into the net 44 seconds into the period to cut the lead to 4-2.
    — Jenna Ortiz, The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2023
  • He’s admitted to pushing past his car’s limit in hopes of willing himself to top-10s.
    — Nathan Brown, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Mar. 2023
  • With two outs in the sixth inning and the Angels behind by a run, Ohtani willed the Angels into the lead after the Mariners walked him intentionally.
    — Dylan Hernández, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2023
  • Interestingly enough, Beach willed the Kew Drive dwelling to Bernsen, who was also his godson.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 1 Nov. 2023
  • That Allen willed herself in the hospital for that long, after dashing through an inferno, was for the sake of her husband, Hood said.
    — Daniel Wu, Washington Post, 3 Oct. 2023
  • Jokic willed his team forward after the half with 18 points, but Denver lost its momentum.
    — Victoria Hernandez, USA TODAY, 5 June 2023
  • Her husband, two of their daughters, their 10-year-old grandson and Lena’s 87-year-old mother-in-law were stretched out in the same room, silently willing themselves into uneasy sleep.
    — Vivian Yee, New York Times, 17 Nov. 2023
  • There is poverty, there are medical issues, there are challenges that can’t be willed away with a positive attitude.
    — Judith Newman, New York Times, 4 May 2023
  • Fox walks in a jerking, hesitant manner, willing himself not to stumble, and his hands tremble throughout much of our discussion, the left one making looping motions while the right one taps against the side of his chair.
    — Brent Lang, Variety, 11 May 2023
  • As the Aztecs prepare for a season with winning and profile momentum like no other, Butler’s confidence, his egoless disregard for stats and math and reason, flashed the belief that willed him to take that shot.
    — Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Oct. 2023
  • For Kelly, that’s drinking coffee while watching her favorite YouTube videos for about 15 to 20 minutes before willing herself to exercise.
    — Alexa Tucker, SELF, 10 Jan. 2024
  • The records — in some cases, family wills that show enslaved human beings bequeathed along with feather beds and farm animals — provide a visceral link between today’s decision makers and slavery.
    — Reuters, NBC News, 27 June 2023
  • Bodybuilding, Hollywood, and politics—the episodes are arranged chronologically, each focusing on a different industry where Schwarzenegger willed himself to power.
    — David Klion, The New Republic, 15 June 2023
  • Cheryl Lee Carr clutched her phone, willing it to ring.
    — Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 9 Aug. 2023
  • Mohican Sachem Chief Joshua willed the land to 16 men, most of whom resided in Norwich.
    — Melanie Savage, Hartford Courant, 4 Jan. 2024
  • But Sabalenka willed her way back, forcing a tiebreaker in the second set, and then again in the third set.
    — Jesus Jiménez, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2023
  • John Holcombe 1 of 4 Holcombe smells his late wife's robe, willing her scent to return to the fabric.
    — Holly Bailey, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2023
  • The Russians were lying prostrate, as if willing themselves to meld in with the ruins around them.
    — Bob Seely, Foreign Affairs, 24 Nov. 2023
  • Taylor had already willed the Colts back into the game, strapped them to his back and hauled his team into a game that looked like a mismatch for most of the first half.
    — The Indianapolis Star, 7 Jan. 2024
  • That should have been the end of that, but the internet proceeded to do its thing and willed the product into existence.
    — Chris Morris, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2024
  • The 2014 document, in addition to willing the main house to Kecalf, calls for royalties and bank funds to be split among the three youngest sons.
    — Brian McCollum, Detroit Free Press, 11 July 2023
  • Barrett Hayton completely willed the puck into the net 44 seconds into the period to cut the lead to 4-2.
    — Jenna Ortiz, The Arizona Republic, 1 Apr. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'will.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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