“Voluntarily” is an adverb that means of one's own free will, without being forced or compelled. Here are some synonyms and their analyses:
1. Willingly
- Meaning: “Willingly” implies a positive inclination or eagerness to do something. It shows that a person is doing an action by their own choice and with a cooperative attitude. For example, “She willingly offered to help with the project.” In comparison to “voluntarily,” “willingly” emphasizes the person's positive attitude and readiness to act, while “voluntarily” might simply imply a self - initiated action without necessarily indicating a strong desire.
- Example: “The volunteers willingly spent their weekends cleaning up the beach.”
2. Freely
- Meaning: “Freely” means without restraint, coercion, or obligation. It can refer to physical freedom as well as freedom in decision - making. For example, “He freely admitted his mistake.” In the context of actions done of one's own accord, “freely” is similar to “voluntarily” in that it emphasizes the absence of external pressure. However, “freely” can also have other meanings related to freedom of movement or speech, while “voluntarily” is more focused on the self - motivated nature of an action.
- Example: “The birds flew freely in the sky, unconstrained by cages.”
3. Spontaneously
- Meaning: “Spontaneously” means happening or done without premeditation or external prompting. It implies a natural and immediate impulse to act. For example, “The audience spontaneously burst into applause.” In contrast to “voluntarily,” which may involve a more considered decision, “spontaneously” emphasizes the sudden and unplanned nature of an action. However, both suggest that the action is not forced.
- Example: “She spontaneously decided to join the street performance and started dancing.”
4. Of one's own accord
- Meaning: This phrase means by one's own choice or initiative. It emphasizes that the action is self - motivated. For example, “He came to the meeting of his own accord.” It is quite similar to “voluntarily” in that it indicates the absence of external compulsion. It's a more formal way of expressing the idea that someone is acting based on their own will.
- Example: “The students studied for the test of their own accord, without the teacher's prodding.”