Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old English
Origin: wille, from wyllan 'to wish for, want, intend to'

will

1 modal verb
     
will1 S1 W1 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.
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary