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reluctantly
/ˌrɛlʌkˈtæntli/
unwillingly or hesitantly
She reluctantly agreed to attend the meeting.
She did so unwillingly or with hesitation.
general
In a way that shows unwillingness or hesitation; not eagerly or enthusiastically.
He reluctantly admitted his mistake.
He confessed his error, but only after much hesitation.
The company reluctantly agreed to the new regulations.
The company accepted the regulations, but only because they had no other choice.
Often used to describe actions taken under pressure or with internal resistance.
Collocations
reluctantly admitto confess something with hesitationreluctantly agreeto accept something unwillinglyreluctantly acceptto take something with hesitation
Pro Tip
Common Usage
Use 'reluctantly' to describe actions that are done without enthusiasm or willingness, often due to external pressure or internal conflict.
Gold Rule
Avoid Overuse
While 'reluctantly' is useful for describing hesitation, avoid overusing it in contexts where a simpler word like 'unwillingly' would suffice.
Word Origin
From the adjective 'reluctant' (from Latin 'reluctans', present participle of 'reluctare' meaning 'to struggle against'), with the adverbial suffix '-ly'.
Usage Notes
Often used to describe actions that are taken under duress or with internal conflict. Can imply a sense of obligation or external pressure.
Word Breakdown
reluct
struggle against
root-ant
present participle suffix
suffix-ly
adverbial suffix
suffixEnglish Dictionary