reluctantly
Americanadverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of reluctantly
Explanation
Reluctantly means "with hesitation, doubt or dread." You might reluctantly walk into the dentist's office for your appointment, knowing that you will soon feel the pain of a root canal. Ouch! The adverb reluctantly comes from the root word reluctant, meaning "unwilling, disinclined." When you do something reluctantly, you don't really want to do it. For example, if you answer a question reluctantly, you will first stall or try to change the subject. If your friend reluctantly agreed to help you move to your new house, you know she felt obligated to say "yes." Better buy her dinner, at the very least.
Vocabulary lists containing reluctantly
"The Ravine," Vocabulary from the short story
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Number the Stars
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Nothing But the Truth
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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.
Bill has been involved in multiple business ventures; he reluctantly told me that these include at least one other Trump store, in Gatlinburg—another former Cupid’s Outlet—as well as condos in Florida.
From Slate ● Aug. 14, 2026
With competing commitments, however, most of the drivers reluctantly bow out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Builder Mark Jefferson from Ilminster, Somerset, ignored the National Lottery's notifications for nine days before reluctantly answering the phone.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
Duncan said he reluctantly agreed to withdraw his compensation application, with the understanding that Murrill would then drop the matter.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2026
George and Owen knew they had to get home before the sun went down, and they reluctantly pulled each other up and got moving.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
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.
