voluntarily
gb/vˌɑləntˈɛɹəli/ us/vˌɑləntˈɛɹəli/
B2
English
~ 7600
önként, önkéntesként, akaratlagosan
B2
1
önként
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] does [something] voluntarily
The witnesses came forward voluntarily to speak to the police.
A tanúk önként jelentkeztek, hogy beszéljenek a rendőrséggel.
She left the company voluntarily before any layoffs were announced.
Önként távozott a cégtől, mielőtt bármilyen elbocsátást bejelentettek volna.
He paid the fine voluntarily, without waiting for a court order.
The suspect stated voluntarily that he had acted alone.
Employees can join the program voluntarily; it is not required.
Learner examples
He stayed after class voluntarily to ask more questions.
Önként bent maradt óra után, hogy további kérdéseket tegyen fel.
She joined the study group voluntarily.
Önként csatlakozott a tanulócsoporthoz.
They paid the extra fee voluntarily.
I did the extra work voluntarily, not because my boss told me to.
The students helped clean the room voluntarily.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "voluntarily" with the adjective "voluntary" and say *"I did it voluntary"* instead of "I did it voluntarily." Another mistake is using a non-existent form *"volunteerly"* instead of "voluntarily." Also, some learners use "voluntarily" when they only mean "for free"; in many contexts, the main idea is free choice, not payment.
Meaning
by free choice, not forced
Collocations
act voluntarily
|agree voluntarily
|participate voluntarily
|leave voluntarily
|confess voluntarily
|pay voluntarily
Synonyms
willingly (Very close in meaning; slightly more emotional and informal in many contexts.)
|
of one’s own accord (A bit more formal and phrase-like; emphasizes that no one asked or told the person to act.)
|
by choice (Highlights that the action results from a decision, not a rule or pressure.)
Antonyms
reluctantly (Shows the action is done without enthusiasm or strong desire, often under some pressure.)
|
under duress (Formal/legal phrase meaning done because of threats or pressure, the opposite of free choice.)
Themes
daily_life
|law
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Done because you choose to do it, not because someone makes you do it.
Done from one’s own free will, without being forced, threatened, or required to do it.
B2
2
önkéntesként
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] works [or serves] voluntarily
Doctors from several countries worked voluntarily in the refugee camp.
Több ország orvosai önkéntesként dolgoztak a menekülttáborban.
Many students tutor children voluntarily after school.
Sok diák önkéntesként korrepetál gyerekeket iskola után.
She manages the charity’s social media accounts voluntarily, on top of her full‑time job.
He served voluntarily on the board of the local museum.
The hotline is staffed voluntarily by trained counselors.
Learner examples
She works at the animal shelter voluntarily.
Önkéntesként dolgozik az állatmenhelyen.
He teaches English to older people voluntarily.
Önkéntesként tanít angolt idősebb embereknek.
They clean the park voluntarily every weekend.
The nurse visits sick people voluntarily after work.
I help my neighbors voluntarily; they do not pay me.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think "voluntarily" always means "for free." In some contexts it only means "by choice." When you want to focus on not getting money, make sure the context is about work or service, as in "work voluntarily."
Meaning
without being paid, as a volunteer
Collocations
work voluntarily
|serve voluntarily
|help voluntarily
|contribute voluntarily
|join voluntarily
Synonyms
for free (Very common and informal; focuses only on not getting money, without the nuance of volunteering for a cause.)
|
unpaid (More neutral and descriptive; often used in job or project descriptions, not always emphasizing choice.)
Antonyms
for pay (Highlights that the work is done in return for money, the opposite of unpaid voluntary work.)
|
paid (Describes work done with financial compensation, not as a volunteer.)
Themes
work
|charity
|education
|business
Definition
Done for free, without money, like a volunteer.
Done as a volunteer, without receiving payment or salary.
C1
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] moves [a body part] voluntarily
After the accident, he could not move his right leg voluntarily.
A baleset után nem tudta akaratlagosan mozgatni a jobb lábát.
The patient is able to breathe voluntarily but sometimes requires support at night.
A beteg képes akaratlagosan lélegezni, de éjszaka néha támogatásra van szüksége.
These muscles cannot be controlled voluntarily by the patient.
During the test, you will be asked to contract the hand muscles voluntarily.
Involuntary twitches may occur even when a person is trying to stay perfectly still voluntarily.
Learner examples
He cannot move his fingers voluntarily after the injury.
A sérülés után nem tudja akaratlagosan mozgatni az ujjait.
You can close your eyes voluntarily, but blinking also happens automatically.
A szemedet akaratlagosan be tudod csukni, de a pislogás automatikusan is történik.
The doctor checked if she could lift her arm voluntarily.
Some muscles move voluntarily, and some move by themselves.
He is awake and can breathe voluntarily without the machine.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this is a more technical, medical use and may confuse it with general "on purpose." In clinical or scientific writing about muscles or reflexes, "voluntarily" specifically contrasts with "involuntarily."
Meaning
under conscious bodily control
Collocations
move voluntarily
|control voluntarily
|contract voluntarily
|breathe voluntarily
Synonyms
consciously (General word for being aware; does not always imply physical control of muscles.)
|
deliberately (Emphasizes intention; less often used in technical medical descriptions of muscle control.)
Antonyms
involuntarily (Standard opposite in medical and technical contexts, for movements that happen without conscious control.)
Themes
medicine
|science
|health
|body
Definition
Using the mind to control the body on purpose, not automatically.
In a way that is under conscious control, especially referring to body movements or functions.
Grammar
Dictionary form
voluntarily
IPA
GB/vˌɑləntˈɛɹəli/
US/vˌɑləntˈɛɹəli/
Syllables & stress
vol - un - tar - ily (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (tar)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: voluntarily
- Plural: voluntarilies
Word family
Forms
voluntarilies
noun
Negative and opposite forms
involuntary
adjective
involuntarily
adverb B2
Advanced or less common
volition
noun
volitional
adjective
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.