"where there is a will there is a way" meaning in English

See where there is a will there is a way in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Proverb

IPA: /ʍɛə ˌðɛəɹ ɪz ə ˈwɪl ðɛəɹ ɪz ə ˈweɪ/ [Received-Pronunciation], /wɛə-/ [Received-Pronunciation], /ʍɛɚ ˌðɛɚ ɪz ə ˈwɪl ðɛɚ ɪz ə ˈweɪ/ [General-American], /wɛɚ-/ [General-American]
Head templates: {{head|en|proverb|head=}} where there is a will there is a way, {{en-proverb}} where there is a will there is a way
  1. If someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found to make it happen. Synonyms: where there is a will [ellipsis], where there's a will there's a way Related terms: seek and ye shall find Translations (if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found): ⁧مفاتيح الأمور العزائم⁩ (Arabic), non gogoa, han zangoa (Basque), voler és poder (Catalan), 有志者事竟成 (yǒuzhìzhě shì jìngchéng) (Chinese Mandarin), 世上無難事,只要肯攀登 (Chinese Mandarin), 世上无难事 (Chinese Mandarin), 只要肯攀登 (shìshàng wú nánshì, zhǐyào kěn pāndēng) (Chinese Mandarin), 世上無難事,只怕有心人 (Chinese Mandarin), 只怕有心人 (shìshàng wú nánshì, zhǐpà yǒuxīnrén) (Chinese Mandarin), když se chce, všechno jde (Czech), kdo chce, hledá způsoby, kdo nechce, hledá důvody (Czech), kde je vůle, tam je cesta (Czech), hvor der er vilje, er der vej (Danish), waar een wil is, is een weg (Dutch), willen is kunnen (Dutch), kion oni volas, tion oni povas (Esperanto), jos tahtoa on (Finnish), luja tahto vie läpi harmaan kiven (Finnish), à cœur vaillant rien d’impossible (French), quand on veut, on peut (French), vouloir c’est pouvoir (French), querer é poder (Galician), wo ein Wille ist, ist auch ein Weg (German), wer will, findet Wege, wer nicht will, findet Gründe (German), wer will, der kann (German), man muss nur wollen (German), το θέλειν είναι δύναμις (to thélein eínai dýnamis) (Greek), θέλειν εστί δύνασθαι (thélein estí dýnasthai) (Greek), ⁧אֵין דָּבָר הָעוֹמֵד בִּפְנֵי הָרָצוֹן⁩ (’ein davar ha‘oméd bifnei haratzon) (Hebrew), ⁧אִם תִּרצוּ אֵין זוֹ אַגָּדָה⁩ (’im tirtzu ’ein zo ’aggadah) (Hebrew), जान है तो जहान है (jān hai to jahān hai) (Hindi), जहाँ चाह वहाँ राह (jahā̃ cāh vahā̃ rāh) (Hindi), nincs lehetetlen, csak tehetetlen (Hungarian), allt er hægt ef viljinn er fyrir hendi (Icelandic), volere è potere (Italian), 精神一到何事か成らざらん (seishin ittō nanigoto ka narazaran) (Japanese), 愚公山を移す (gukō yama o utsusu) (Japanese), 思う念力岩をも通す (omou nenriki iwa o mo tōsu) (Japanese), 百姓の息が天に昇る (hyakushō no iki ga ten ni noboru) (Japanese), 為せば成る (naseba naru) (Japanese), 蟻の思いも天に届く (ari no omoi mo ten ni todoku) (Japanese), 蟻の思いも天に登る (ari no omoi mo ten ni noboru) (Japanese), patie ating buri ating paralan (Kapampangan), istung mikaburi mikiparalan (Kapampangan), wou e Wëllen ass, do ass e Wee (Luxembourgish), di mana ada kemahuan, di situ ada jalan (Malay), dla chcącego nic trudnego (Polish), dla chcącego nie ma nic trudnego (Polish), chcieć to móc (Polish), chcącemu nic nie trudno, niechcącemu wszytko (Polish), querer é poder (Portuguese), бы́ло бы жела́ние, а спо́соб найдётся (býlo by želánije, a spósob najdjótsja) (Russian), где хоте́ние, там и уме́ние (gde xoténije, tam i uménije) (Russian), far am bi toil, bidh gnìomh (Scottish Gaelic), sve se može kad se hoće (Serbo-Croatian), gdje ima volje, ima i načina (Serbo-Croatian), querer es poder (Spanish), más hace el que quiere que el que puede (Spanish), penye nia pana njia (Swahili), att vilja är att kunna (Swedish), viljan kan berg (Swedish), finns det hjärterum så finns det stjärterum (Swedish), kapag may gusto, may paraan (Tagalog), хостан тавонистан аст (xostan tavonistan ast) (Tajik), ความพยายามอยู่ที่ไหน ความสำเร็จอยู่ที่นั่น (kwaam-pá-yaa-yaam-yùu-tîi-nǎi kwaam-sǎm-rét-yùu-tîi-nân) (Thai), iman varsa imkan da vardır (Turkish)
    Sense id: en-where_there_is_a_will_there_is_a_way-en-proverb-yL5hCRz5 Categories (other): English proverbs, Mandarin terms with non-redundant manual transliterations

Alternative forms

Download JSON data for where there is a will there is a way meaning in English (18.0kB)

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  "head_templates": [
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      "args": {
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      "expansion": "where there is a will there is a way",
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      "expansion": "where there is a will there is a way",
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  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
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  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
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          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English proverbs",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
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        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Mandarin terms with non-redundant manual transliterations",
          "parents": [
            "Terms with non-redundant manual transliterations",
            "Entry maintenance"
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        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1724, Pharmacopolæ Justificati: Or, Apothecaries Vindicated from the Imputation of Ignorance. Wherein is Shown, that an Academical Education is No Way Necessary to Qualify a Man for the Practice of Physick, London: Printed for J. Roberts, […], →OCLC, page 6",
          "text": "[I]f he leaves the School poſſeſs'd of a ſluggiſh indolent Diſpoſition, and of Learning rather forc'd upon him than choſen, it is probable he will forget what he brought thence; but if he be active, emulous and aſpiring, he will certainly find Time for Reading and Thinking; for tho' it be a homely, it is a true Saying, that where there is a Will, there is a Way.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1796, Baron von Voght [i.e., Caspar Voght], “Account of the Management of the Poor in Hamburgh, between the Years 1788 and 1794. In a Letter to Some Friends of the Poor in Great Britain. […]”, in The Pamphleteer: Respectfully Dedicated to both Houses of Parliament, volume XI, number XXII, London: Printed by A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy, […]; sold by Rest Fenner, […]; Lloyd; Black, Kingsbury, and Co., […], published 1818, page 444",
          "text": "[H]ow far the particular practices in regard to Works of Industry may be usefully adopted, it is difficult to determine; but \"where there is a will, there is a way:\" local habits and circumstances must be the guides.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "[1810, Pigault-Lebrun [pseudonym; Charles-Antoine-Guillaume Pigault de l’Espinoy], “My Grandfather Riboulard, and My Grandmother Rosalia, are Really Married”, in My Uncle Thomas. A Romance. In Two Volumes. From the French, volume I, New York, N.Y.: Printed [by Isaac Riley] for John Brannan, →OCLC, page 16",
          "text": "Unmindful of her former poverty, she was perpetually teasing Riboulard to take a lodging in Rue St. Honoré, and to allow her to dress in a style more suitable to her station. [...] It is an old saying, that where there is a will, there is always a way. At the end of a few months, Rosalia began to trick out her person, without the corporal's knowledge; [...]]",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1840 November, [Samuel] Laman Blanchard, “A Quarrel with Some Old Acquaintances”, in Theodore Hook, editor, The New Monthly Magazine and Humorist, volume LX, 3rd part, number CCXXXIX, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, section 10 (Where There’s a Will There’s a Way), page 408",
          "text": "The powerful and the fortunate are very fond of the maxim, \"where there's a will there's a way;\" and they rarely use it without expressing in very clear terms a cold, insolent, and uncharitable judgment upon exertions they are themselves not called upon to make, while they modestly declare that such exertions, if by them made, would be triumphant. They say, in sort, to the weak and unprosperous—You might succeed if you would, for effort is success, and we should find a certain and easy conquest where you have met but baffled hopes and continual defeat!",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "24 August 1882, John McKenzie, “Land Boards Bill”, in New Zealand. Parliamentary Debates. First Session of the Eighth Parliament. […] (House of Representatives), volume XLIII, Wellington: G. Didsbury, government printer, →OCLC, page 550, column 2",
          "text": "Where there is a will there is a way; but where there is no will there is no way, and that is the case with my honorable friend opposite.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "9 February 1912, “a New York detective” [pseudonym], “The Bradys in Death Swamp: Or, Downing a Desperate Band”, in Secret Service: Old and Young King Brady, Detectives, number 681, New York, N.Y.: Frank Tousey, →OCLC, chapter IX (The Rescue of Master Monkey), page 20, column 1",
          "text": "I have learned during my long life the great lesson that where there is a will there is a way. Armed bands have failed against these people. I came here hoping to find the way because I already had the will. Perhaps I did find it when fate threw me in with you.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "28 October 1987, James Ezekiel Mbori, “Private Members’ Motions: Additional Water Pipeline from Mzima to Mombasa”, in Republic of Kenya: The National Assembly: Official Report […] (National Assembly of Kenya), volume LXXIII, Nairobi: Printed by the government printer, →OCLC, column 628",
          "text": "We have a saying in English: \"Where there is a will there is a way\". This House has a will, though the hon. Members of Parliament who represent the entire Kenya. [...] There will be funds made available because where there is a will there is a way. Funds will be made available, and this House always makes funds available every year.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "[2007, Christopher J. Gallagher, S. Barry Issenberg, “Attendance and Scheduling Issues”, in Simulation in Anesthesia, Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier, page 64",
          "text": "Scheduling is the killer of Simulators. But where there's a will … you know the rest. Kill the Scheduling Monster before it kills you.]",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found to make it happen."
      ],
      "id": "en-where_there_is_a_will_there_is_a_way-en-proverb-yL5hCRz5",
      "links": [
        [
          "wants",
          "want#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "wills",
          "will#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "strongly",
          "strongly"
        ],
        [
          "way",
          "way"
        ],
        [
          "found",
          "find#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "happen",
          "happen"
        ]
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "word": "seek and ye shall find"
        }
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "tags": [
            "ellipsis"
          ],
          "word": "where there is a will"
        },
        {
          "word": "where there's a will there's a way"
        }
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "code": "ar",
          "lang": "Arabic",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "⁧مفاتيح الأمور العزائم⁩"
        },
        {
          "code": "eu",
          "lang": "Basque",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "non gogoa, han zangoa"
        },
        {
          "code": "ca",
          "lang": "Catalan",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "voler és poder"
        },
        {
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "yǒuzhìzhě shì jìngchéng",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "有志者事竟成"
        },
        {
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "世上無難事,只要肯攀登"
        },
        {
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "世上无难事"
        },
        {
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "shìshàng wú nánshì, zhǐyào kěn pāndēng",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "只要肯攀登"
        },
        {
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "世上無難事,只怕有心人"
        },
        {
          "code": "cmn",
          "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
          "roman": "shìshàng wú nánshì, zhǐpà yǒuxīnrén",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "只怕有心人"
        },
        {
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "když se chce, všechno jde"
        },
        {
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "kdo chce, hledá způsoby, kdo nechce, hledá důvody"
        },
        {
          "code": "cs",
          "lang": "Czech",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "kde je vůle, tam je cesta"
        },
        {
          "code": "da",
          "lang": "Danish",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "hvor der er vilje, er der vej"
        },
        {
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "waar een wil is, is een weg"
        },
        {
          "code": "nl",
          "lang": "Dutch",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "willen is kunnen"
        },
        {
          "code": "eo",
          "lang": "Esperanto",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "kion oni volas, tion oni povas"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "jos tahtoa on"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "luja tahto vie läpi harmaan kiven"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "à cœur vaillant rien d’impossible"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "quand on veut, on peut"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "vouloir c’est pouvoir"
        },
        {
          "code": "gl",
          "lang": "Galician",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "querer é poder"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "wo ein Wille ist, ist auch ein Weg"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "wer will, findet Wege, wer nicht will, findet Gründe"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "wer will, der kann"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "man muss nur wollen"
        },
        {
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "to thélein eínai dýnamis",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "το θέλειν είναι δύναμις"
        },
        {
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "thélein estí dýnasthai",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "θέλειν εστί δύνασθαι"
        },
        {
          "code": "he",
          "lang": "Hebrew",
          "roman": "’ein davar ha‘oméd bifnei haratzon",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "⁧אֵין דָּבָר הָעוֹמֵד בִּפְנֵי הָרָצוֹן⁩"
        },
        {
          "code": "he",
          "lang": "Hebrew",
          "roman": "’im tirtzu ’ein zo ’aggadah",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "⁧אִם תִּרצוּ אֵין זוֹ אַגָּדָה⁩"
        },
        {
          "code": "hi",
          "lang": "Hindi",
          "roman": "jān hai to jahān hai",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "जान है तो जहान है"
        },
        {
          "code": "hi",
          "lang": "Hindi",
          "roman": "jahā̃ cāh vahā̃ rāh",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "जहाँ चाह वहाँ राह"
        },
        {
          "code": "hu",
          "lang": "Hungarian",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "nincs lehetetlen, csak tehetetlen"
        },
        {
          "code": "is",
          "lang": "Icelandic",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "allt er hægt ef viljinn er fyrir hendi"
        },
        {
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "volere è potere"
        },
        {
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "seishin ittō nanigoto ka narazaran",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "精神一到何事か成らざらん"
        },
        {
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "gukō yama o utsusu",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "愚公山を移す"
        },
        {
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "omou nenriki iwa o mo tōsu",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "思う念力岩をも通す"
        },
        {
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "hyakushō no iki ga ten ni noboru",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "百姓の息が天に昇る"
        },
        {
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "naseba naru",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "為せば成る"
        },
        {
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "ari no omoi mo ten ni todoku",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "蟻の思いも天に届く"
        },
        {
          "code": "ja",
          "lang": "Japanese",
          "roman": "ari no omoi mo ten ni noboru",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "蟻の思いも天に登る"
        },
        {
          "code": "pam",
          "lang": "Kapampangan",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "patie ating buri ating paralan"
        },
        {
          "code": "pam",
          "lang": "Kapampangan",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "istung mikaburi mikiparalan"
        },
        {
          "code": "lb",
          "lang": "Luxembourgish",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "wou e Wëllen ass, do ass e Wee"
        },
        {
          "code": "ms",
          "lang": "Malay",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "di mana ada kemahuan, di situ ada jalan"
        },
        {
          "code": "fa",
          "lang": "Persian",
          "note": "⁧خواستن توانستن است⁩ (xâstan tavânestan ast, literally “wanting is being able to”)",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found"
        },
        {
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "dla chcącego nic trudnego"
        },
        {
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "dla chcącego nie ma nic trudnego"
        },
        {
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "chcieć to móc"
        },
        {
          "code": "pl",
          "lang": "Polish",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "chcącemu nic nie trudno, niechcącemu wszytko"
        },
        {
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "querer é poder"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "býlo by želánije, a spósob najdjótsja",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "бы́ло бы жела́ние, а спо́соб найдётся"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "roman": "gde xoténije, tam i uménije",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "где хоте́ние, там и уме́ние"
        },
        {
          "code": "gd",
          "lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "far am bi toil, bidh gnìomh"
        },
        {
          "code": "sh",
          "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "sve se može kad se hoće"
        },
        {
          "code": "sh",
          "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "gdje ima volje, ima i načina"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "querer es poder"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "más hace el que quiere que el que puede"
        },
        {
          "code": "sw",
          "lang": "Swahili",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "penye nia pana njia"
        },
        {
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "att vilja är att kunna"
        },
        {
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "viljan kan berg"
        },
        {
          "code": "sv",
          "lang": "Swedish",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "finns det hjärterum så finns det stjärterum"
        },
        {
          "code": "tl",
          "lang": "Tagalog",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "kapag may gusto, may paraan"
        },
        {
          "code": "tg",
          "lang": "Tajik",
          "roman": "xostan tavonistan ast",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "хостан тавонистан аст"
        },
        {
          "code": "th",
          "lang": "Thai",
          "roman": "kwaam-pá-yaa-yaam-yùu-tîi-nǎi kwaam-sǎm-rét-yùu-tîi-nân",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "ความพยายามอยู่ที่ไหน ความสำเร็จอยู่ที่นั่น"
        },
        {
          "code": "tr",
          "lang": "Turkish",
          "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
          "word": "iman varsa imkan da vardır"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ʍɛə ˌðɛəɹ ɪz ə ˈwɪl ðɛəɹ ɪz ə ˈweɪ/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/wɛə-/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ʍɛɚ ˌðɛɚ ɪz ə ˈwɪl ðɛɚ ɪz ə ˈweɪ/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/wɛɚ-/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "word": "where there is a will there is a way"
}
{
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "proverb",
        "head": ""
      },
      "expansion": "where there is a will there is a way",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "where there is a will there is a way",
      "name": "en-proverb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "proverb",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "seek and ye shall find"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English lemmas",
        "English multiword terms",
        "English proverbs",
        "English terms with IPA pronunciation",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "Mandarin terms with non-redundant manual transliterations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "ref": "1724, Pharmacopolæ Justificati: Or, Apothecaries Vindicated from the Imputation of Ignorance. Wherein is Shown, that an Academical Education is No Way Necessary to Qualify a Man for the Practice of Physick, London: Printed for J. Roberts, […], →OCLC, page 6",
          "text": "[I]f he leaves the School poſſeſs'd of a ſluggiſh indolent Diſpoſition, and of Learning rather forc'd upon him than choſen, it is probable he will forget what he brought thence; but if he be active, emulous and aſpiring, he will certainly find Time for Reading and Thinking; for tho' it be a homely, it is a true Saying, that where there is a Will, there is a Way.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1796, Baron von Voght [i.e., Caspar Voght], “Account of the Management of the Poor in Hamburgh, between the Years 1788 and 1794. In a Letter to Some Friends of the Poor in Great Britain. […]”, in The Pamphleteer: Respectfully Dedicated to both Houses of Parliament, volume XI, number XXII, London: Printed by A[braham] J[ohn] Valpy, […]; sold by Rest Fenner, […]; Lloyd; Black, Kingsbury, and Co., […], published 1818, page 444",
          "text": "[H]ow far the particular practices in regard to Works of Industry may be usefully adopted, it is difficult to determine; but \"where there is a will, there is a way:\" local habits and circumstances must be the guides.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "[1810, Pigault-Lebrun [pseudonym; Charles-Antoine-Guillaume Pigault de l’Espinoy], “My Grandfather Riboulard, and My Grandmother Rosalia, are Really Married”, in My Uncle Thomas. A Romance. In Two Volumes. From the French, volume I, New York, N.Y.: Printed [by Isaac Riley] for John Brannan, →OCLC, page 16",
          "text": "Unmindful of her former poverty, she was perpetually teasing Riboulard to take a lodging in Rue St. Honoré, and to allow her to dress in a style more suitable to her station. [...] It is an old saying, that where there is a will, there is always a way. At the end of a few months, Rosalia began to trick out her person, without the corporal's knowledge; [...]]",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1840 November, [Samuel] Laman Blanchard, “A Quarrel with Some Old Acquaintances”, in Theodore Hook, editor, The New Monthly Magazine and Humorist, volume LX, 3rd part, number CCXXXIX, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, section 10 (Where There’s a Will There’s a Way), page 408",
          "text": "The powerful and the fortunate are very fond of the maxim, \"where there's a will there's a way;\" and they rarely use it without expressing in very clear terms a cold, insolent, and uncharitable judgment upon exertions they are themselves not called upon to make, while they modestly declare that such exertions, if by them made, would be triumphant. They say, in sort, to the weak and unprosperous—You might succeed if you would, for effort is success, and we should find a certain and easy conquest where you have met but baffled hopes and continual defeat!",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "24 August 1882, John McKenzie, “Land Boards Bill”, in New Zealand. Parliamentary Debates. First Session of the Eighth Parliament. […] (House of Representatives), volume XLIII, Wellington: G. Didsbury, government printer, →OCLC, page 550, column 2",
          "text": "Where there is a will there is a way; but where there is no will there is no way, and that is the case with my honorable friend opposite.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "9 February 1912, “a New York detective” [pseudonym], “The Bradys in Death Swamp: Or, Downing a Desperate Band”, in Secret Service: Old and Young King Brady, Detectives, number 681, New York, N.Y.: Frank Tousey, →OCLC, chapter IX (The Rescue of Master Monkey), page 20, column 1",
          "text": "I have learned during my long life the great lesson that where there is a will there is a way. Armed bands have failed against these people. I came here hoping to find the way because I already had the will. Perhaps I did find it when fate threw me in with you.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "28 October 1987, James Ezekiel Mbori, “Private Members’ Motions: Additional Water Pipeline from Mzima to Mombasa”, in Republic of Kenya: The National Assembly: Official Report […] (National Assembly of Kenya), volume LXXIII, Nairobi: Printed by the government printer, →OCLC, column 628",
          "text": "We have a saying in English: \"Where there is a will there is a way\". This House has a will, though the hon. Members of Parliament who represent the entire Kenya. [...] There will be funds made available because where there is a will there is a way. Funds will be made available, and this House always makes funds available every year.",
          "type": "quotation"
        },
        {
          "ref": "[2007, Christopher J. Gallagher, S. Barry Issenberg, “Attendance and Scheduling Issues”, in Simulation in Anesthesia, Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier, page 64",
          "text": "Scheduling is the killer of Simulators. But where there's a will … you know the rest. Kill the Scheduling Monster before it kills you.]",
          "type": "quotation"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "If someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found to make it happen."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "wants",
          "want#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "wills",
          "will#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "strongly",
          "strongly"
        ],
        [
          "way",
          "way"
        ],
        [
          "found",
          "find#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "happen",
          "happen"
        ]
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ʍɛə ˌðɛəɹ ɪz ə ˈwɪl ðɛəɹ ɪz ə ˈweɪ/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/wɛə-/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ʍɛɚ ˌðɛɚ ɪz ə ˈwɪl ðɛɚ ɪz ə ˈweɪ/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/wɛɚ-/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "synonyms": [
    {
      "tags": [
        "ellipsis"
      ],
      "word": "where there is a will"
    },
    {
      "word": "where there's a will there's a way"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "ar",
      "lang": "Arabic",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "⁧مفاتيح الأمور العزائم⁩"
    },
    {
      "code": "eu",
      "lang": "Basque",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "non gogoa, han zangoa"
    },
    {
      "code": "ca",
      "lang": "Catalan",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "voler és poder"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "yǒuzhìzhě shì jìngchéng",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "有志者事竟成"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "世上無難事,只要肯攀登"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "世上无难事"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "shìshàng wú nánshì, zhǐyào kěn pāndēng",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "只要肯攀登"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "世上無難事,只怕有心人"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "世上无难事"
    },
    {
      "code": "cmn",
      "lang": "Chinese Mandarin",
      "roman": "shìshàng wú nánshì, zhǐpà yǒuxīnrén",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "只怕有心人"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "když se chce, všechno jde"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "kdo chce, hledá způsoby, kdo nechce, hledá důvody"
    },
    {
      "code": "cs",
      "lang": "Czech",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "kde je vůle, tam je cesta"
    },
    {
      "code": "da",
      "lang": "Danish",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "hvor der er vilje, er der vej"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "waar een wil is, is een weg"
    },
    {
      "code": "nl",
      "lang": "Dutch",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "willen is kunnen"
    },
    {
      "code": "eo",
      "lang": "Esperanto",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "kion oni volas, tion oni povas"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "jos tahtoa on"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "luja tahto vie läpi harmaan kiven"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "à cœur vaillant rien d’impossible"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "quand on veut, on peut"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "vouloir c’est pouvoir"
    },
    {
      "code": "gl",
      "lang": "Galician",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "querer é poder"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "wo ein Wille ist, ist auch ein Weg"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "wer will, findet Wege, wer nicht will, findet Gründe"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "wer will, der kann"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "man muss nur wollen"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "to thélein eínai dýnamis",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "το θέλειν είναι δύναμις"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "thélein estí dýnasthai",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "θέλειν εστί δύνασθαι"
    },
    {
      "code": "he",
      "lang": "Hebrew",
      "roman": "’ein davar ha‘oméd bifnei haratzon",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "⁧אֵין דָּבָר הָעוֹמֵד בִּפְנֵי הָרָצוֹן⁩"
    },
    {
      "code": "he",
      "lang": "Hebrew",
      "roman": "’im tirtzu ’ein zo ’aggadah",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "⁧אִם תִּרצוּ אֵין זוֹ אַגָּדָה⁩"
    },
    {
      "code": "hi",
      "lang": "Hindi",
      "roman": "jān hai to jahān hai",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "जान है तो जहान है"
    },
    {
      "code": "hi",
      "lang": "Hindi",
      "roman": "jahā̃ cāh vahā̃ rāh",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "जहाँ चाह वहाँ राह"
    },
    {
      "code": "hu",
      "lang": "Hungarian",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "nincs lehetetlen, csak tehetetlen"
    },
    {
      "code": "is",
      "lang": "Icelandic",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "allt er hægt ef viljinn er fyrir hendi"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "volere è potere"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "seishin ittō nanigoto ka narazaran",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "精神一到何事か成らざらん"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "gukō yama o utsusu",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "愚公山を移す"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "omou nenriki iwa o mo tōsu",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "思う念力岩をも通す"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "hyakushō no iki ga ten ni noboru",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "百姓の息が天に昇る"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "naseba naru",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "為せば成る"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "ari no omoi mo ten ni todoku",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "蟻の思いも天に届く"
    },
    {
      "code": "ja",
      "lang": "Japanese",
      "roman": "ari no omoi mo ten ni noboru",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "蟻の思いも天に登る"
    },
    {
      "code": "pam",
      "lang": "Kapampangan",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "patie ating buri ating paralan"
    },
    {
      "code": "pam",
      "lang": "Kapampangan",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "istung mikaburi mikiparalan"
    },
    {
      "code": "lb",
      "lang": "Luxembourgish",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "wou e Wëllen ass, do ass e Wee"
    },
    {
      "code": "ms",
      "lang": "Malay",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "di mana ada kemahuan, di situ ada jalan"
    },
    {
      "code": "fa",
      "lang": "Persian",
      "note": "⁧خواستن توانستن است⁩ (xâstan tavânestan ast, literally “wanting is being able to”)",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "dla chcącego nic trudnego"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "dla chcącego nie ma nic trudnego"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "chcieć to móc"
    },
    {
      "code": "pl",
      "lang": "Polish",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "chcącemu nic nie trudno, niechcącemu wszytko"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "querer é poder"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "býlo by želánije, a spósob najdjótsja",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "бы́ло бы жела́ние, а спо́соб найдётся"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "roman": "gde xoténije, tam i uménije",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "где хоте́ние, там и уме́ние"
    },
    {
      "code": "gd",
      "lang": "Scottish Gaelic",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "far am bi toil, bidh gnìomh"
    },
    {
      "code": "sh",
      "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "sve se može kad se hoće"
    },
    {
      "code": "sh",
      "lang": "Serbo-Croatian",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "gdje ima volje, ima i načina"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "querer es poder"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "más hace el que quiere que el que puede"
    },
    {
      "code": "sw",
      "lang": "Swahili",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "penye nia pana njia"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "att vilja är att kunna"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "viljan kan berg"
    },
    {
      "code": "sv",
      "lang": "Swedish",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "finns det hjärterum så finns det stjärterum"
    },
    {
      "code": "tl",
      "lang": "Tagalog",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "kapag may gusto, may paraan"
    },
    {
      "code": "tg",
      "lang": "Tajik",
      "roman": "xostan tavonistan ast",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "хостан тавонистан аст"
    },
    {
      "code": "th",
      "lang": "Thai",
      "roman": "kwaam-pá-yaa-yaam-yùu-tîi-nǎi kwaam-sǎm-rét-yùu-tîi-nân",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "ความพยายามอยู่ที่ไหน ความสำเร็จอยู่ที่นั่น"
    },
    {
      "code": "tr",
      "lang": "Turkish",
      "sense": "if someone wants or wills something strongly enough, a way can be found",
      "word": "iman varsa imkan da vardır"
    }
  ],
  "word": "where there is a will there is a way"
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2024-03-12 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2024-03-01 using wiktextract (68773ab and 5f6ddbb). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.