reluctantly

[ ri-luhk-tuhnt-lee ]

/ rɪˈlʌk tənt li /

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See synonyms for reluctantly on Thesaurus.com

adverb

without really wanting to; unwillingly: I told her to take a break, just for one moment, and she reluctantly pulled away from her work.

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CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of reluctantly

reluctant + -ly

OTHER WORDS FROM reluctantly

half-re·luc·tant·ly, adverbun·re·luc·tant·ly, adverb

Words nearby reluctantly

rel. pron., relucent, reluct, reluctance, reluctant, reluctantly, reluctate, reluctivity, relume, relumine, rely

How to use reluctantly in a sentence

If you cannot, Miss Manners reluctantly condones not answering, on the theory that business etiquette does not require responses to those calling — metaphorically, in this case — to sell you something.
Miss Manners: Does an online dating request deserve a reply to decline?|Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
First, Facebook, Google and the rest have reluctantly embraced their role as our gatekeepers to information, and there’s likely no going back.
This Week’s Awesome Tech Stories From Around the Web (Through November 7)|Singularity Hub Staff|November 7, 2020|Singularity Hub
Since my being home alone wasn’t a huge departure from my normal routine, my parents reluctantly agreed to let me stay home all day.
Making the Most of Playing Hooky for the World Series|Eugene Robinson|October 25, 2020|Ozy
As a result we have reluctantly come to the difficult decision to wind down the business, return cash to our shareholders, and say goodbye to our colleagues with grace.
Quibi is out. But other companies will still try to build in its place|Lucinda Shen|October 22, 2020|Fortune

Facebook’s threatThe social network spoke out saying that, if passed, it would “reluctantly” stop news sharing.
State of play: Where the battle with Google and Facebook to pay for news is hottest|Lucinda Southern|September 7, 2020|Digiday
In contrast to so many of those who were drafted, the players did not enter the Vietnam War reluctantly.
A West Point MVP Who Never Played a Down|Nicolaus Mills|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She reluctantly agreed to make her grams happy, and participated in the Miss Universe Canada pageant, placing in the top 15.
The Making of Kiesza: From Navy Sharpshooter to Beauty Queen to Pop Diva|Marlow Stern|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He has reluctantly reconnected with a brother we didn't even know he had in Season 1.
Michael Sheen’s Masterful Study of Sex and Insecurity|Caryn James|September 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yatsenyuk has announced that his party will now go into the elections, reluctantly, on a list separate from Poroshenko's.
Ukraine’s President Wowed Congress, But His Party Has a Dark Side|Anna Nemtsova|September 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He is convinced that, in the end, economic reasoning will force Scots to reluctantly reject independence.
Anarchy for the U.K.? British Leaders Panicking Over Scottish Vote for Independence|Nico Hines|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There seems something in that also which I could spare only very reluctantly from a new Bible in the world.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
When this last shred of hope was gone, the Brigadier reluctantly gave the order to retreat.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
The weapons, the most unusual weapons, we are reluctantly compelled to accept under protest.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3)|Charles James Wills
That is impossible—sahib—” and the words came reluctantly—“there are no boats on the river these days.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
On his return to Manila in February, 1903, he reluctantly took the required oath and was permitted to remain in the capital.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman