unwilling
Americanadjective
-
not willing; reluctant; loath; averse.
an unwilling partner in the crime.
-
opposed; offering resistance; stubborn or obstinate; refractory.
an unwilling captive.
adjective
-
unfavourably inclined; reluctant
-
performed, given, or said with reluctance
Other Word Forms
- unwillingly adverb
- unwillingness noun
Etymology
Origin of unwilling
before 900; Old English unwillende (not recorded in ME); un- 1, willing
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Approximately 800 ships are believed to have been stuck in the Gulf, many transporting oil and gas, and have been unable and unwilling to exit onto the open seas.
From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026
But they have proved unwilling while the conflict rages.
From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026
However, some GPs said they would be unwilling to prescribe the drugs due to their lack of specialist knowledge.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
Investors unwilling to pay the price looked for cheap opportunities in sectors like utilities and energy.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 21, 2026
They saw no immediate reason to join the enormous queue, but they were unwilling to come away from the beach in case a boat should suddenly appear.
From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
