“Reluctant” means not really wanting to do something, or feeling unsure and hesitant about it.

Quick Scoop: What “reluctant” means

  • If you are reluctant, you are not willing or eager to do something.
  • There is usually some doubt, hesitation, or inner struggle involved.
  • You might still do the thing, but you do it slowly, carefully, or without much enthusiasm.

Simple examples

  • “She was reluctant to speak in front of the class.” = She did not really want to speak, she felt shy or unsure.
  • “He gave a reluctant smile.” = He smiled, but he didn’t fully feel like it.
  • “They were reluctant to get involved.” = They didn’t really want to take part.

Related words

  • Similar words: unwilling, hesitant, loath, not keen.
  • Noun form: “reluctance” – the feeling of not wanting to do something (e.g., “his reluctance to help”).

TL;DR: Being reluctant means you don’t really want to do something and you hesitate, even if you might end up doing it anyway.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.