Dictionary

unwilling en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ʌnˈwɪlɪŋ/
• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English willing English unwilling From un- + willing.

Meanings

1. Not willing; reluctant
   • My son, a Canada-based IT professional who often travels to Ukraine, told me about the exhilarating atmosphere on those Ukraine-bound trains, bringing home hundreds of the unwilling refugees, mostly women and children (including the babies, born in exile on the way to meet their Ukrainian fighter fathers for the first time). The difference between Ukrainian refugees and other reluctant exiles is that Ukrainians are desperate to return. 2024 September 4, Vitali Vitaliev, “A salute to Ukraine's 'Second Army'”, in RAIL, number 1017, page 49:
   • an unwilling servant
   • There was a prevailing fear of the effect of large undertakings becoming monopolistic, and Parliament showed itself unwilling to sanction any large groupings. 1948 January and February, “British Railways”, in Railway Magazine, page 1:
   • [...] but in the damp conditions prevailing the driver sensibly was unwilling to attempt the climb up through Combe Down tunnel without help, for fear of slipping to a standstill in the unventilated bore, [...]. 1960 March, “Motive Power Miscellany: Western Region”, in Trains Illustrated, page 184:
   • We are unwilling to restore his previous privileges after his betrayal of our trust.

Forms

Deriveds

unwillingly · unwillingness

Translations (39)

es no dispuesto (not willing; reluctant) · mi kōroiroi (not willing; reluctant) · tr hevessiz (not willing; reluctant) · tr isteksiz (not willing; reluctant) · cmn 不情願 /不情愿 (not willing; reluctant) · fi vastahakoinen (not willing; reluctant) · grc ἄκων (not willing; reluctant) · ru нерасполо́женный (not willing; reluctant) · gv neuarryltagh (not willing; reluctant) · mi ngākaukore (not willing; reluctant) · cs neochotný (not willing; reluctant) · la invītus (not willing; reluctant) · es poco gustoso (not willing; reluctant) · fi haluton (not willing; reluctant) · mi horokukū (not willing; reluctant) · pt indisposto (not willing; reluctant) · bg неохотен (not willing; reluctant) · ca reaci (not willing; reluctant) · mi whakawhēuaua (not willing; reluctant) · tr gönülsüz (not willing; reluctant) · ga drogallach (not willing; reluctant) · mi whakatohetohe (not willing; reluctant) · ru неохо́тный (not willing; reluctant) · es nada listoco (not willing; reluctant) · ru нескло́нный (not willing; reluctant) · gd leisg (not willing; reluctant) · gv neuaignagh (not willing; reluctant) · es imprestable (not willing; reluctant) · gd aindeònach (not willing; reluctant) · mi korongata (not willing; reluctant) · fa بیمیل (not willing; reluctant) · fr réticent (not willing; reluctant) · pl nieskłonny (not willing; reluctant) · mi manawapā (not willing; reluctant) · es poco voluntarioso (not willing; reluctant) · de unwillig (not willing; reluctant) · pl niechętny (not willing; reluctant) · pl niełatwy (not willing; reluctant) · gv neuwooiagh (not willing; reluctant)