reluctantly

adverb

re·​luc·​tant·​ly ri-ˈlək-tənt-lē 

: in a reluctant manner : with aversion or hesitation

The quiet resolution in his voice penetrated her racing thoughts. Reluctantly she gave him a corner of her attention.

—Elizabeth George Speare

He is about to release 'Thriller,' and today he's agreed, reluctantly, to sit for the Rolling Stone cover.

—Gerri Hirshey

Kirsti had gone to bed reluctantly, complaining that she wanted to stay up with the others, that she was grownup enough, … that it wasn't fair.

—Lois Lowry

Examples of reluctantly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Commissioners reluctantly agreed to place it on the ballot after a judge ordered them to do so. — Ana Claudia Chacin, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026

After the Korean War, Washington reluctantly bowed to European pressure to relax some restrictions. — S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026

Previous Bee reporting found that several Republicans in the district will reluctantly support Matsui to prevent Vang from winning the seat. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Thoreau reluctantly emerged, did an errand, and then went to collect huckleberries. — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above