reluctantly

adverb

re·​luc·​tant·​ly ri-ˈlək-tənt-lē How to pronounce reluctantly (audio)
: in a reluctant manner : with aversion or hesitation
The quiet resolution in his voice penetrated her racing thoughts. Reluctantly she gave him a corner of her attention.Elizabeth George Speare
He is about to release 'Thriller,' and today he's agreed, reluctantly, to sit for the Rolling Stone cover.Gerri Hirshey
Kirsti had gone to bed reluctantly, complaining that she wanted to stay up with the others, that she was grownup enough, … that it wasn't fair.Lois Lowry

Examples of reluctantly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
News emerged of United being reluctantly open to selling homegrown players, such as Alejandro Garnacho or Kobbie Mainoo, if big offers arrive due to a need to comply with football’s financial rules. James McNicholas, The Athletic, 13 Jan. 2025 The Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, reluctantly signed into law by Trump in August 2017, limited the president's ability to unilaterally revoke sanctions on countries such as Russia. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025 Nicole Kidman and Temuera Morrison return as Aquaman’s parents, and Randall Park plays Dr. Stephen Shin, a scientist who is (reluctantly) helping Black Manta. Dina Gachman, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025 The new film has Eggman and Sonic reluctantly agreeing to work together to stop Shadow, which produces its own comic energy. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 20 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for reluctantly 

Word History

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of reluctantly was in 1646

Dictionary Entries Near reluctantly

Cite this Entry

“Reluctantly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reluctantly. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

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