unwilling

unwilling — adjective

1. deciding or choosing not to do something because you do not want to; refusing to

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

deciding or choosing not to do something because you do not want to; refusing to do what is asked or expected

Example

Erik was unwilling to lend his car to his younger brother.

unwilling + to-infinitive for refusing an action

The company appears unwilling to offer refunds for the delayed flight.

Common collocations
  • unwilling to accept
  • unwilling to admit
  • unwilling to participate
  • unwilling to cooperate
  • unwilling to speak
Synonyms
  • reluctant

    softer than unwilling — implies hesitation or resistance rather than a firm refusal

  • hesitant

    focuses on delay or caution before acting, often from uncertainty rather than opposition

  • disinclined

    more formal and milder — suggests a slight lack of desire rather than active refusal

Antonyms
  • willing

    ready and happy to do something

  • eager

    enthusiastic and excited to do something

Grammar Patterns

unwilling + to-infinitive

Usage Note

Frequently followed by a to-infinitive. This sense implies a deliberate personal choice to refuse, rather than an inability or lack of opportunity.

Common Mistakes

I was unwilling can come to the party.
I was unwilling to come to the party.
'unwilling' must be followed by 'to' before another verb.
I was unwilling to the party.
I was unwilling to go to the party.
'unwilling' needs a verb after it, not a noun phrase.

2. done, given, or experienced even though the person does not truly want to, usual

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

done, given, or experienced even though the person does not truly want to, usually because they are forced by pressure or circumstances

Example

Ziad gave an unwilling smile when his boss asked him to work through the weekend.

unwilling + noun (smile / praise / consent)

The team's unwilling participation in the event was clear from their faces.

unwilling + noun for a forced action or role

Common collocations
  • unwilling participant
  • unwilling supporter
  • unwilling partner
  • unwilling admiration
  • unwilling praise
  • unwilling consent
  • unwilling witness
Synonyms
  • forced

    stronger — emphasises external compulsion with no choice

  • grudging

    more resentful — highlights displeasure or annoyance at having to do something

  • reluctant

    softer — can describe both a person and the action, with less emphasis on compulsion

Antonyms
  • willing

    done gladly and without hesitation

  • voluntary

    done by choice, not because of pressure

Grammar Patterns

unwilling + noun

Usage Note

Used only attributively — placed before a noun to describe an action, role, or response that is given reluctantly. Distinguish from sense 1, where 'unwilling' describes the person's attitude, not the action itself.

Common Mistakes

He was unwilling to smile at the party.' (if meaning a forced smile).
He gave an unwilling smile at the party.
Sense 2 goes before a noun; use sense 1 with 'to-infinitive' for personal refusal.
She was an unwilling to participate.
She was an unwilling participant.
'unwilling' in this sense directly modifies the noun, not a verb.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These four words describe different types of resistance to doing something. Unwilling is the strongest — it implies a firm personal choice to refuse, often with an active decision not to participate. Reluctant is softer: a reluctant person may hesitate or show resistance but eventually agrees. Hesitant focuses on delay or uncertainty before acting; a hesitant speaker may pause before answering, not because of opposition but because of doubt. Disinclined is the mildest and most formal of the four, used in polite refusals as in 'I am disinclined to accept the invitation.' For example, a child may be unwilling to apologise (flatly refuses), hesitant to enter a dark room (needs encouragement), but merely disinclined to finish vegetables (mildly uninterested).

unwilling ↗reluctant ↗hesitantdisinclined

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • extremely unwilling
  • singularly unwilling
  • noticeably unwilling
  • understandably unwilling

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Unwilling comes from Old English 'unwillende', where the prefix 'un-' means 'not' and 'willende' means 'willing' or 'desiring'. The word has been used for over a thousand years with the same core meaning of lacking desire or readiness to act.