reluctant to engage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reluctant to engage" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is hesitant or unwilling to participate in a discussion, activity, or interaction. Example: "Despite the team's enthusiasm, she remained reluctant to engage in the brainstorming session."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Restrictive rules of engagement have left Marines and soldiers reluctant to engage the enemy, sapping battlefield morale, West writes.

Los Angeles Times

The Athenians are reluctant to engage in these activities.

Yale University

It's regrettable he is so reluctant to engage.

The Guardian - Opinion

She appeared reluctant to engage, frequently reciting stock answers to questions.

The New York Times

The White House still seems reluctant to engage in debate about the pipeline's merits.

The New Yorker

The parents, too, were reluctant to engage with staff and talk about their children's education.

Independent

Historically, America has always been reluctant to engage in military force".

The New Yorker

Indeed, he can appear a bit reluctant to engage in a discussion on policy details.

The New Yorker

In that respect, Austrians are more reluctant to engage in personal interactions with Japanese tourists than with German tourists.

International Business Review

Curiously, whenever the issue was raised with the prime minister he was reluctant to engage.

The Guardian - Opinion

Acknowledge sensitivities: Development practitioners have been reluctant to engage with this debate.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "reluctant to engage", consider the reason behind the reluctance. Providing context adds depth to your writing and helps readers understand the character's or entity's motivations.

Common error

Avoid consistently framing subjects as "reluctant to engage" without exploring active reasons or consequences. Balance passive descriptions with active voice to make your writing more dynamic and informative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reluctant to engage" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive. It modifies a noun or pronoun, describing a state of unwillingness or hesitation to participate in something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard construction used to express this sentiment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Academia

20%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

13%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "reluctant to engage" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a state of unwillingness or hesitation to participate in something. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is widespread across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and formal communication. The phrase's versatility and neutral register make it suitable for a wide range of writing styles. When using "reluctant to engage", consider providing context to enrich your writing. Alternatives such as "hesitant to participate" or "unwilling to get involved" can offer subtle variations in meaning. Avoid overuse in passive voice to maintain dynamic and informative writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hesitant to participate

Focuses on the act of taking part in something, highlighting uncertainty.

unwilling to get involved

Emphasizes a decision not to be associated or implicated in an activity.

disinclined to interact

Highlights a lack of desire to communicate or work with others.

averse to involvement

Indicates a strong feeling of dislike or opposition towards being included.

loath to participate

Stresses a feeling of intense unwillingness or repugnance toward participating.

resistant to taking part

Suggests active opposition or reluctance to join in.

shrinking from engagement

Implies avoiding or drawing back from interaction due to discomfort or fear.

evasive about participation

Indicates an attempt to avoid or sidestep involvement in something.

avoiding involvement

Highlights the active avoidance of getting involved or participating.

uneager to engage

Simply expresses a lack of enthusiasm to participate or interact.

FAQs

How can I use "reluctant to engage" in a sentence?

You can use "reluctant to engage" to describe someone or something that is hesitant or unwilling to participate or interact. For example, "The witness was "reluctant to engage" with the police investigation."

What are some alternatives to "reluctant to engage"?

Alternatives to "reluctant to engage" include "hesitant to participate", "unwilling to get involved", or "disinclined to interact", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "reluctant to engage" or "hesitant to engage"?

Both "reluctant to engage" and "hesitant to engage" are correct and similar in meaning. "Reluctant" implies a stronger feeling of unwillingness, while "hesitant" suggests more of a pause or uncertainty. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "reluctant to engage" and "avoiding engagement"?

"Reluctant to engage" suggests an internal feeling of unwillingness, whereas "avoiding engagement" implies active behavior to prevent participation. Someone "reluctant to engage" might still participate minimally, while someone "avoiding engagement" makes a conscious effort to stay out of it.