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Glite Dictionary
with a will

with a will

2 6.0
To act with strong effort and energy
  • idiom
: con determinación
  • She approached her studies with a will, determined to excel in her exams.
  • work with a will

Examples

  • He was a poor Saudi craftsman, and the money the strange infidel was prepared to pay was very good, so he worked with a will.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • Neither was a dull brute, and they took off with a will down the rutted road.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Without one, or with a will that is not comprehensive, your estate might end up going through the probate process.

    Blog text (18)

  • It moved along like a snake with a will of its own, finding its way around the roads and across the water to another stand.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • She was born with a will to win and an undaunted spirit.

    Blog text (18)

  • The men, who had practiced such work for survival before Petersburg, had set to the digging with a will.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • "The men sang with a will, as much to brace up their own courage as to impress the horsemen around them.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Yekaterina, by speaking out, and you, by giving her a platform on your page, are showing the world that there is a new generation—at least in the Russian art world—with a will and a drive to stand up and speak out!

    Blog text (18)

  • "Load solid shot!" His gunners set to with a will, ramming home the cartridges and twelve-pound balls, while the gun-layers swung the two artillery pieces around.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • The team tackled the project with a will, finishing ahead of schedule.

Synonyms

with conviction
vswith a will
20 4.6

In a way that shows strong belief and confidence

focuses on energetic effort and practical hard work rather than belief
tooth and nail
vswith a will
  • Informal
20 5.8

You try very hard and do not give up

uses strong determination but not necessarily violent force
with every breath
vswith a will
7 5.7

Trying very hard and never giving up

shows determined effort but not continuous at every moment

Antonyms

lazily
12 1.2

In a slow relaxed way that uses little energy

How Determined

with a will
2 6.0
effortfully
1 5.4

Surface Forms

with a will positive

Morphology

with + a + will

The phrase is compositionally built from 'with' (indicating manner) + 'a' (article) + 'will' (mental determination), so its sense 'with determination/energy' is directly derivable from the constituents. Although slightly formal, the 'with + noun' pattern meaning manner/attitude is common and a B1 learner who knows 'will' in the sense of determination would readily understand this expression.

Etymology

With a will comes from the word will, meaning a strong wish or inner strength. Imagine someone pushing a heavy cart with all their will; they work hard and with energy, so the phrase came to mean 'with determination'.