ENGLISH
REFERENCE

reluctance

n. uncountable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ɹiˈɫəktəns// UK //ɹɪlˈʌktəns// re·luc·tance Academic Archaic

n. a feeling of not wanting to do something. You feel this when you are slow to act because you are unsure or unwilling.

n. a state of unwillingness or hesitation to act. In technical contexts, it refers to the opposition offered by a magnetic circuit to magnetic flux.


SIMPLE

She showed great reluctance to leave the party.

CONTEXTUAL

Despite his reluctance to speak in public, the manager gave a short speech to thank the team.

COMPLEX

The government's reluctance to intervene in the market led to a period of significant price volatility that frustrated both consumers and producers.

Synonyms
Origin

From reluct + -ance.

Usage

Often followed by the infinitive 'to' ('reluctance to do something').

Pitfall

his reluctance of helpinghis reluctance to helpReluctance is followed by a 'to-infinitive' rather than the preposition 'of' and a gerund.

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