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

Ross's journey began reluctantly, encouraged by her father, with parents fostering internal motivation and valuing effort over winning. — Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

At times during the program’s lean years, the Canes were so bereft of elite talent that when a skilled player groused or lollygagged, it was reluctantly tolerated. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026

The return of fans’ favourite Barry Bannan after reluctantly joining Millwall in January is among the most notable, along with the capture of forward Louie Barry from Aston Villa on a four-year deal. — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Kevin is reluctantly forced to go to trial, facing such logistical obstacles as the difficulty of serving Road Runner a subpoena. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above