reluctant

/ri'lʌktənt/

Thân thiện

The student is reluctant to answer the difficult question.

Definition

Adjective 1. Feeling or showing hesitation, unwillingness, or aversion to do something: Describes a state of not being eager or inclined to act, often due to doubt, dislike, or fear. 2. Done, given, or said with hesitation or unwillingness: Describes an action or expression that is performed without enthusiasm or full consent.

Usage

The adjective "reluctant" describes a person's internal feeling of unwillingness or the hesitant quality of an action. It is almost always followed by an infinitive ("to" + verb) or used before a noun. * It is used to describe a person: a reluctant volunteer. * It is used to describe an action or expression: a reluctant agreement. * The most common structure is: Subject + be verb + reluctant + to + verb.

Examples

• Feeling unwilling:
  • She was reluctant to ask for help.
  • Many citizens are reluctant to report minor crimes.
  • He gave a reluctant nod when asked if he understood.
• Action done with hesitation:
  • The government made a reluctant concession to the protesters.
  • With a reluctant sigh, she handed over the keys.

Advanced Usage

• "Reluctantly" (adverb): In a hesitant or unwilling manner.
  • He reluctantly admitted that he was wrong.
• "Reluctance" (noun): The feeling of being reluctant; unwillingness.
  • She agreed, but with great reluctance.

Variants and Related Words

• Reluctance (n): The state of being reluctant.
• Reluctantly (adv): In a reluctant manner.

Synonyms

• Unwilling: Not ready, eager, or prepared to do something.
• Hesitant: Tentative, unsure, or slow in acting or speaking.
• Disinclined: Unwilling or negatively inclined.
• Loath / Loathe (to be loath to do something): Strongly unwilling or reluctant.

Antonyms

• Eager: Very keen or enthusiastic.
• Willing: Ready, eager, or prepared to do something.
• Enthusiastic: Having or showing intense enjoyment, interest, or approval.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• A reluctant hero/smile/agreement: A common collocation emphasizing that the action (being a hero, smiling, agreeing) was done without eagerness.
  • He was hailed as a reluctant hero for his actions that day.
• Nothing loath / Nothing reluctant: An older or more formal phrase meaning "very willing."
  • When offered the chance to travel, she was nothing loath.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. not eager
   • foreigners stubbornly reluctant to accept our ways
   • fresh from college and reluctant for the moment to marry him
2. disinclined to become involved
   • they were usually reluctant to socialize
   • reluctant to help
3. unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
   • a reluctant smile
   • loath to admit a mistake

Từ đồng nghĩa

• loath
• loth