Word
unwilling
Phoneticsun·will·ing, stress on the second syllable
US/ənˈwɪɫɪŋ/
UK/ʌnwˈɪlɪŋ/
Definition
adj. not wanting to do something. You use this when you have to do a task but you really do not want to.
adj. not ready, eager, or prepared to do something; hesitant or resistant. Often used to describe a person who performs an action only because they are forced or pressured.
Examples
“He was unwilling to help with the heavy lifting.”
“The witness was unwilling to testify in court until the police promised to protect his identity.”
“Despite the generous severance package, many senior staff members remained unwilling to relocate to the new headquarters, citing deep-rooted ties to the local community.”
Examples
simple
“He was unwilling to help with the heavy lifting.”
contextual
“The witness was unwilling to testify in court until the police promised to protect his identity.”
complex
“Despite the generous severance package, many senior staff members remained unwilling to relocate to the new headquarters, citing deep-rooted ties to the local community.”
Usage
Commonly followed by a 'to' + infinitive construction.
Pitfall
he is unwilling of going
he is unwilling to go
Unwilling is followed by a 'to-infinitive', not the preposition 'of' with a gerund.
Real-World Examples
“Young people are coming out of university unable to get on to the housing ladder, unable and unwilling to get married, unable to start a family.” “State and local officials were unwilling to provide such funds for what was a generally unpopular cause.” Etymology
From un- + willing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/unwilling