What does reluctantly mean?
Word: Reluctantly
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: Reluctantly means in a way that shows you do not really want to do something, but you do it anyway.
Synonyms: unwillingly, grudgingly
Antonyms: willingly, gladly
How do you spell reluctantly?
Syllables: re - luc - tant - ly
Tricky part: The third syllable is tant, with an a, because the word is built on reluctant. Do not let the ent of words like silent trick you.
Watch out for: reluctently, relucantly
Memory tip: Find the ant hiding in the middle of reluctantly, and picture a tired ant that does not want to carry one more crumb.
Reluctantly in a sentence
Example 1: Riya reluctantly switched off the cartoon and started her homework.
Example 2: The puppy reluctantly came out of the warm basket into the cold garden.
Example 3: My brother reluctantly agreed to share the window seat on the train.
Fun Fact
Reluctant comes from a Latin word meaning to struggle against, which is how you feel when you do something you would rather not.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word: reluctantly
a) slowly
b) quietly
c) sadly
d) eagerly
Show answer
d) eagerly. Eagerly means wanting very much to do something, the opposite of not wanting to.
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
relucktantly
a) c
b) t
c) u
d) k
Show answer
d) k. The c alone gives the k sound in luc.
Mingle-Mangle
Form a meaningful word from the jumbled letters:
ytalnculret
a) reluctantly
b) redundantly
c) reluctance
d) relevantly
Show answer
a) reluctantly. Reluctance needs a second c, redundantly two d's and relevantly a v.
Word Makeup
Choose the suffix that completes the word:
reluctant____
a) ley
b) ly
c) lly
d) ely
Show answer
b) ly. Adding ly turns reluctant into an adverb, just as slow becomes slowly.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Ravi went somewhere reluctantly. Where did he most likely go?
a) to the pool on a hot day
b) to the dentist for a filling
c) to his best friend's party
d) to the ice-cream van
Show answer
b) to the dentist for a filling
2. Mehul reluctantly lent his new bat to his cousin. How did Mehul feel about it?
a) he wanted to give it away
b) he did not really want to
c) he had forgotten about it
d) he was delighted
Show answer
b) he did not really want to
