reluctantly
rih-LUHK-tuhnt-lee
Reluctantly (adv) means In an unwilling or hesitant way. Example: “He reluctantly handed over his car keys to the valet.”
adv
1
In an unwilling or hesitant way.
"He reluctantly handed over his car keys to the valet."
"She reluctantly agreed to work the extra shift."
How to use reluctantly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDoing something while clearly not wanting to.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like reluctantly.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more reluctantly
- Superlative
- most reluctantly
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ handed over his car keys to the valet.
Rhymes for reluctantly
instantly
elegantly
valiantly
blatantly
distantly
abundantly
constantly
pleasantly
importantly
incessantly
brilliantly
triumphantly
See all rhymes for reluctantly →
Frequently asked questions
What does “reluctantly” mean?
The word “reluctantly” means in an unwilling or hesitant way. In plain terms, doing something while clearly not wanting to.
How do you pronounce “reluctantly”?
“Reluctantly” is pronounced rih-LUHK-tuhnt-lee (/ɹɪˈlʌktəntli/ in IPA).
How do you use “reluctantly” in a sentence?
Here is “reluctantly” used in a sentence: “He reluctantly handed over his car keys to the valet.”
What part of speech is “reluctantly”?
“Reluctantly” is an adverb.
Is “reluctantly” a common word?
“Reluctantly” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
