grammar · academic
be reluctant to + V
unwilling or hesitant to do something; followed by a to-infinitive.
Examples
“Many employers are reluctant to hire graduates with no experience.”
“She was reluctant to accept the offer without consulting her family.”
“Students may be reluctant to participate in class discussions at first.”
Band 8 sentence
“Policymakers are often reluctant to implement radical reforms without clear evidence of benefits.”
Collocations
- be reluctant to accept
- be reluctant to commit
Word family
Common mistakes
be reluctant + V-ing→be reluctant to + V
reluctant for somebody to V→reluctant to V / reluctant for somebody to V (formal: reluctant for + noun + to + V)
Say it for a higher band
5hesitant to + V→6unwilling to + V→7+be reluctant to + V
Synonyms
hesitant to + V
unwilling to + V
Easily confused
hesitant to + V
“She was hesitant to sign the contract without legal advice.”
Related words
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In Gerunds & infinitives
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