DictionarywillFuture or willingness
verb

will

Used to express future action, willingness, or a confident expectation.

I will gladly help you carry those heavy bags.

Etymology

The older verb means wishing or intending. It developed into an auxiliary for willingness, future action, and confident prediction.

More examples

  • The bus will arrive in ten minutes.
  • That will be Maria at the door.
  • Will you please close the window?
  • She said she would call after work.

Forms

will · would

Similar words

shall
Also expresses future action, but usually sounds more formal.
would
Expresses future action viewed from the past, or conditional willingness.