reluctant
rih-LUHK-tuhnt
Reluctant (adj) means unwilling to do something; hesitant or resistant to taking an action. Example: “The cat was reluctant to leave its warm spot by the fire.”
adj
1
Unwilling to do something; hesitant or resistant to taking an action.
"The cat was reluctant to leave its warm spot by the fire."
"That’s probably because you appear as someone who rarely puts himself forward, and is reluctant to teach the wisdom he has."
— Plato, Euthyphro (2010)
"She was reluctant to sign the contract without reading it first."
"He seemed reluctant to admit he was wrong."
"She was reluctant to lend him the money"
"Surprisingly, our new dog is a reluctant ball-retriever."
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.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
reluctant to admit
reluctant to leave
somewhat reluctant
reluctantly agreed
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more reluctant
- Superlative
- most reluctant
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The cat was _____ to leave its warm spot by the fire.
Etymology
From Latin reluctans, "struggling against" — from re- ("back") + luctari ("to struggle").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “reluctant” mean?
The word “reluctant” means unwilling to do something; hesitant or resistant to taking an action. In plain terms, not wanting to do something, and showing it through hesitation.
How do you pronounce “reluctant”?
“Reluctant” is pronounced rih-LUHK-tuhnt (/ɹɪˈlʌktənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “reluctant” in a sentence?
Here is “reluctant” used in a sentence: “She was reluctant to sign the contract without reading it first.”
What part of speech is “reluctant”?
“Reluctant” is an adjective.
Where does the word “reluctant” come from?
The word “reluctant” comes from Latin. From Latin reluctans, "struggling against" — from re- ("back") + luctari ("to struggle").
Is “reluctant” a common word?
“Reluctant” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
What is the difference between reluctant and hesitant?
Reluctant describes an unwillingness to do something, often because of a negative feeling toward the action itself. Hesitant describes pausing or delaying before acting, often due to uncertainty or doubt rather than outright unwillingness. Someone can be hesitant simply from lack of confidence, while reluctance implies a degree of resistance.
What is the difference between reluctant and reticent?
Reluctant means unwilling to take an action, such as being reluctant to speak up. Reticent means unwilling to share information or talk about something, closer to being reserved or tight-lipped. The two are sometimes confused, but reticent applies specifically to speech or disclosure while reluctant applies to actions generally.
What preposition or verb form follows reluctant?
Reluctant is typically followed by a to-infinitive, as in "reluctant to leave" or "reluctant to agree." It can also be followed by "about," as in "reluctant about the decision."
