ENGLISH
REFERENCE

reluctant

adj.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //ɹiˈɫəktənt// UK //ɹɪlˈʌktənt// re·luc·tant Archaic

adj. not wanting to do something because you are unsure or afraid. You feel this way when you do something but don't really want to.

adj. unwilling and hesitant to engage in a specific action. Often implies a internal struggle or a lack of enthusiasm for the task at hand.


SIMPLE

She was reluctant to leave the party early.

CONTEXTUAL

The witness was reluctant to speak with the police until they promised to keep his identity secret.

COMPLEX

Despite the potential for high returns, many investors remained reluctant to enter the market while the political situation remained so volatile and unpredictable.

Synonyms
Origin

Learned borrowing from Latin reluctāns, present participle of reluctor (“to struggle against, oppose, resist”), from re- (“back”) + luctor (“to struggle”).

Usage

Commonly followed by a 'to'-infinitive ('reluctant to go') or the preposition 'about'.

Pitfall

he is reluctant of the changehe is reluctant about the changeReluctant typically takes the preposition 'about' or a 'to'-infinitive, not 'of'.

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