reluctantly

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "reluctantly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that someone is doing something with reluctance or hesitation. Example sentence: I reluctantly agreed to help him with his project.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Hollywood film U-571 (2000), in which the Royal Navy's capture of an Enigma machine during the second world war is falsely attributed to an American crew (including chief engineer Jon Bon Jovi), was denounced in parliament by prime minister Tony Blair.

The Guardian - Film

U Myint Aye, aged 61, from Yangon, has a long track record of peaceful political activism.

The Guardian

Referring back to her iconic look in the Nothing Compares 2 U video – a huge international hit written by Prince – O'Connor admitted that she was asked by her label to reconsider her image for the 1990s video.

The Guardian - Music

In Britain, the US and France the top 1% have over the past 100 years seen their fortunes rise and fall and rise again in a U-shaped arc.

The Guardian - Business

Of these, Brundage sa id 85% – almost 600,000 – are unemployed even though many of them are employable.

The Guardian - Business

"This time it was União da Madeira, his eighth promotion, from the second division to the first tier (or seventh if we exclude last year as he was sacked before the end of the season): P. Ferreira 90-91, Académica 96-97, U. Leiria 97-98, Belenenses 98-99, Leixões 06-07, Arouca 12-13, Moreirense 13-14 and U. Madeira 14-15.

The Guardian - Sport

The U-6 number is around 13%, Yellen says.

The Guardian - Business

But on Thursday at an EU summit in Brussels, Luxembourg performed a U-turn and promised to hand over all the tax rulings to the commission after Vestager announced she was extending her inquiry to all 28 EU countries.

The Guardian

Indeed the pressure became so intense over the past 72 hours that the government was forced into an embarrassing U-turn over plans to cut allowances for younger disabled people in the republic.

The Guardian

"I guess it hurts 2 have the producers tell u to ur face that nicki is the best judge we've had since simon [cowell]," the rapper further tweeted.

The Guardian - Music

Amnesty is calling for the immediate release of Burmese human rights activist U Myint Aye, who is serving a life sentence for his alleged involvement in planning a bomb attack in the Shwepyitha Township in Yangon on 1 July 2008.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reluctantly" to convey a sense of hesitation or unwillingness, adding depth to character descriptions or narrative situations. Make sure the context clearly establishes why the reluctance exists.

Common error

Avoid using "reluctantly" when a stronger term like "forcefully" or "passionately" is more appropriate. "Reluctantly" implies a degree of resistance, so ensure it aligns with the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "reluctantly" primarily functions to modify verbs, adverbs, or adjectives. It indicates the manner in which an action is performed, specifically highlighting a sense of unwillingness, hesitation, or opposition. As noted by Ludwig AI, the word is considered correct and usable in English, as the examples demonstrate.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reluctantly" is an adverb used to modify actions, expressing hesitation or unwillingness. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically sound and versatile, suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It frequently appears in news, business, and scientific writing. When using "reluctantly", consider the intensity of hesitation you want to convey, and explore synonyms like "unwillingly" or "hesitantly" to fine-tune your message. Be mindful of the nuance it brings to your writing, ensuring that you don't choose a stronger or weaker word if your intention doesn't align with its meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unwillingly

Focuses on the lack of willingness, emphasizing the internal resistance to performing an action.

hesitantly

Highlights the pause or delay in acting, suggesting uncertainty or reservation.

grudgingly

Implies a resentful or bitter compliance, suggesting the action is performed with bad grace.

with reluctance

A more formal and explicit way of expressing reluctance, often used in descriptive writing.

under protest

Indicates that the action is performed while explicitly objecting to it.

against one's will

Emphasizes the lack of consent or agreement, suggesting coercion or obligation.

with reservation

Highlights that there are some things that cause you concern.

involuntarily

Suggests the action is performed without conscious control or intention.

compelled

Indicates that the action is driven by force or strong external pressure

under duress

Suggests the action is a consequence of pressure and coercion.

FAQs

How can I use "reluctantly" in a sentence?

You can use "reluctantly" to show that someone is doing something they don't want to do. For instance, "She "reluctantly" agreed to help clean the messy room".

What are some alternatives to "reluctantly"?

You can use alternatives like "unwillingly", "hesitantly", or "grudgingly" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I reluctantly agree"?

Yes, "I "reluctantly" agree" is grammatically correct and conveys that you are agreeing despite some hesitation or unwillingness.

What is the difference between "reluctantly" and "hesitantly"?

"Reluctantly" implies an unwillingness to do something, while "hesitantly" implies a pause or uncertainty before doing something.