reluctantly
Use Reluctantly in a sentence
tənt adjective
1.
unwilling; disinclined: a reluctant candidate.
2.
struggling in opposition.
Origin:
1655–65; < Latin reluctant- (stem of reluctāns), present participle of reluctārī. See reluct, -ant
1655–65; < Latin reluctant- (stem of reluctāns), present participle of reluctārī. See reluct, -ant
Related forms
re·luc·tant·ly, adverb
half-re·luc·tant, adjective
half-re·luc·tant·ly, adverb
un·re·luc·tant, adjective
un·re·luc·tant·ly, adverb
Can be confused: 1. reluctant, reticent (see synonym study at the current entry) ; 2. reticent, reluctant.
Synonyms
1. Reluctant, loath, averse describe disinclination toward something. Reluctant implies some sort of mental struggle, as between disinclination and sense of duty: reluctant to expel students. Loath describes extreme disinclination: loath to part from a friend. Averse used with to and a noun or a gerund, describes a long-held dislike or unwillingness, though not a particularly strong feeling: averse to an idea; averse to getting up early.
1. Reluctant, loath, averse describe disinclination toward something. Reluctant implies some sort of mental struggle, as between disinclination and sense of duty: reluctant to expel students. Loath describes extreme disinclination: loath to part from a friend. Averse used with to and a noun or a gerund, describes a long-held dislike or unwillingness, though not a particularly strong feeling: averse to an idea; averse to getting up early.
Antonyms
1. willing.
1. willing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To reluctantly
00:10
Reluctantly
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
reluctant (rɪˈlʌktənt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | not eager; unwilling; disinclined |
| 2. | archaic offering resistance or opposition |
| [C17: from Latin reluctārī to resist; see | |
| re'luctantly | |
| —adv | |
| reluctant (rɪˈlʌktənt) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | not eager; unwilling; disinclined |
| 2. | archaic offering resistance or opposition |
| [C17: from Latin reluctārī to resist; see | |
| re'luctantly | |
| —adv | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
reluctant
"unwilling," 1660s, from L. reluctantem, prp. of reluctari (see reluctance). Related: Reluctantly.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Example sentences
He describes reluctantly attending a football game with his father.
Science forms conclusions reluctantly and with caveats.
They are only reluctantly responsive, and you often find yourself repeating an unheeded command.
These are choices governments make reluctantly and businesses make routinely.
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