voluntarily
gb/vˌɑləntˈɛɹəli/ us/vˌɑləntˈɛɹəli/
B2
Inglés
~ 7600
Acepciones
0 acepciones
adverb
B2
property
1
by free choice, not forced
Done because you choose to do it, not because someone makes you do it.
Patrón de uso:
[someone] does [something] voluntarily
Error frecuente:
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.
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
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.)
Colocaciones
act voluntarily
|agree voluntarily
|participate voluntarily
|leave voluntarily
|confess voluntarily
|pay voluntarily
Temas
daily_life
|law
|society
|core_vocabulary
Ejemplos
- The witnesses came forward voluntarily to speak to the police.
- She left the company voluntarily before any layoffs were announced.
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- He stayed after class voluntarily to ask more questions.
- She joined the study group voluntarily.
- 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.
adverb
B2
property
2
without being paid, as a volunteer
Done for free, without money, like a volunteer.
Patrón de uso:
[someone] works [or serves] voluntarily
Error frecuente:
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."
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
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.)
Colocaciones
work voluntarily
|serve voluntarily
|help voluntarily
|contribute voluntarily
|join voluntarily
Temas
work
|charity
|education
|business
Ejemplos
- Doctors from several countries worked voluntarily in the refugee camp.
- Many students tutor children voluntarily after school.
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- She works at the animal shelter voluntarily.
- He teaches English to older people voluntarily.
- 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.
adverb
technical
C1
property
3
under conscious bodily control
Using the mind to control the body on purpose, not automatically.
Patrón de uso:
[someone] moves [a body part] voluntarily
Error frecuente:
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."
Sinónimos
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.)
Antónimos
involuntarily (Standard opposite in medical and technical contexts, for movements that happen without conscious control.)
Colocaciones
move voluntarily
|control voluntarily
|contract voluntarily
|breathe voluntarily
Temas
medicine
|science
|health
|body
Ejemplos
- After the accident, he could not move his right leg voluntarily.
- The patient is able to breathe voluntarily but sometimes requires support at night.
- 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.
Ejemplos para estudiantes
- He cannot move his fingers voluntarily after the injury.
- You can close your eyes voluntarily, but blinking also happens automatically.
- 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.
Gramática
Forma de diccionario
voluntarily
AFI
GB/vˌɑləntˈɛɹəli/
US/vˌɑləntˈɛɹəli/
Sílabas y acento
vol - un - tar - ily (4 sílabas)
Stress on 3rd syllable (tar)
Formas de la palabra
Noun
- Base: voluntarily
- Plural: voluntarilies
Familia de palabras
Forms
voluntarilies
noun
Negative and opposite forms
involuntary
adjective
involuntarily
adverb B2
Advanced or less common
volition
noun
volitional
adjective
Expresiones
Todavía no hay expresiones vinculadas a esta entrada.