Volitional

/vəˈlɪʃənəl/ · adjective

Meaning

(not comparable, formal) Of or relating to the volition or will..

Definitions by Sense

1. (not comparable, formal) Of or relating to the volition or will.
2. (comparable) Done by conscious, personal choice; not based on external principles; not accidental.
3. (grammar, not comparable, of an inflectional class or inflected form) Expressing intention, hortation, supposition, or inclusive invitation.
4. The volitional grammatical mood.
5. A form of a word inflected for the volitional mood; a volitional form.

Example Sentences

Little by little the whole subject population of the world was fitted with the instruments of volitional control. The government was now practically omnipotent.

Stern and Karl Bühler noticed independently that a child’s first “No” has a volitional meaning and that the significance as a simple denial of fact appears several months afterwards.

A man of genius makes no mistakes. His errors are volitional and are the portals to discovery.

“Loving on” someone—whether he likes it or not—posits love as a volitional activity, an act not of passion but of will.

Synonyms for volitional

Antonyms for volitional

Related Words

Word Forms

• more volitional
• most volitional
• volitionals

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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