reluctantly

[ ri-luhk-tuhnt-lee ]

adverb

1. without really wanting to; unwillingly:

   I told her to take a break, just for one moment, and she reluctantly pulled away from her work.

Other Words From

• half-re·luc·tant·ly adverb
• un·re·luc·tant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of reluctantly¹

reluctant ( def ) + -ly

Example Sentences

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.

From 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.

From 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.

From 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.

From Fortune

Facebook’s threatThe social network spoke out saying that, if passed, it would “reluctantly” stop news sharing.

From Digiday

In contrast to so many of those who were drafted, the players did not enter the Vietnam War reluctantly.

From The Daily Beast

She reluctantly agreed to make her grams happy, and participated in the Miss Universe Canada pageant, placing in the top 15.

From The Daily Beast

He has reluctantly reconnected with a brother we didn't even know he had in Season 1.

From The Daily Beast

Yatsenyuk has announced that his party will now go into the elections, reluctantly, on a list separate from Poroshenko's.

From The Daily Beast

He is convinced that, in the end, economic reasoning will force Scots to reluctantly reject independence.

From The Daily Beast

There seems something in that also which I could spare only very reluctantly from a new Bible in the world.

From Project Gutenberg

When this last shred of hope was gone, the Brigadier reluctantly gave the order to retreat.

From Project Gutenberg

The weapons, the most unusual weapons, we are reluctantly compelled to accept under protest.

From Project Gutenberg

That is impossible—sahib—” and the words came reluctantly—“there are no boats on the river these days.

From Project Gutenberg

On his return to Manila in February, 1903, he reluctantly took the required oath and was permitted to remain in the capital.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• carefully
• cautiously
• hesitantly
• unwillingly
• warily