Synonyms

reluctantly

American

[ri-luhk-tuhnt-lee] / rɪˈlʌk tənt li /

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.

Other Word Forms

half-reluctantly adverb
unreluctantly adverb

Etymology

Origin of reluctantly

reluctant ( def. ) + -ly

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.

He curled his lips and reluctantly said, “All right, badger. What’s your name?”

From Literature

When Laura insists on returning to Berlin, the impatient, irritated boyfriend reluctantly agrees to drive her back to the train station.

From Los Angeles Times

My eyes seized only a few details as I inched reluctantly past.

From Literature

“Number, please,” I say, as Helen turns reluctantly back to her own switchboard and picks up her own headset.

From Literature

Air Force Academy, reluctantly leaving only once the lightning in his magical right arm became too powerful to ignore.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023