adj
reluctant
rih-LUHK-tuhnt
adj
1
Unwilling to do something; hesitant or resistant to taking an action.
"She was reluctant to sign the contract without reading it first."
"He seemed reluctant to admit he was wrong."
How to Use Reluctant
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot wanting to do something, and showing it through hesitation.
Common mistake
Reluctant describes unwillingness, not inability — you're reluctant to do something you CAN do but don't want to.
Common pairings
reluctant to admit
reluctant to leave
somewhat reluctant
reluctantly agreed
Word Forms
more reluctant comparative, most reluctant superlative
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She was _____ to sign the contract without reading it first.
Etymology
From Latin reluctans, "struggling against" — from re- ("back") + luctari ("to struggle").