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Prepositions after adjectives

reluctant to, reluctant about, or reluctant in

Reluctant to is the most common pattern for actions. Reluctant about is used for topics or decisions, while reluctant in is uncommon and usually limited to formal contexts.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows reluctant?

Use reluctant to before a verb, such as reluctant to speak. Use reluctant about for hesitation concerning a topic or plan. Reluctant in is rare and usually appears in formal descriptions of behaviour within a situation.

She was reluctant to answer the question.
They're reluctant about the proposed changes.
He was reluctant in expressing his opinion.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
reluctant to + verb

Hesitating to do something

Reluctant to introduces an action that someone does not want to do.

I was reluctant to sign the contract.
She seemed reluctant to join the discussion.
2
reluctant about + topic

Feeling unsure about a matter

Reluctant about is used with decisions, plans, or subjects that cause hesitation.

They're reluctant about the new schedule.
He was reluctant about the investment.
3
reluctant in + activity

Formal use describing behaviour

Reluctant in appears mainly in formal or literary English to describe hesitation within an activity.

She was reluctant in giving details.
The witness remained reluctant in answering questions.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
reluctant to
He was reluctant to apologise.
unwilling to perform an action
reluctant about
She's reluctant about the merger.
hesitant concerning a topic or plan
reluctant in
The manager was reluctant in discussing the issue.
formal description of hesitation within an activity
hesitant to
They were hesitant to commit.
similar meaning with slightly softer tone

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using reluctant with a noun instead of a verb

Reluctant to is followed by a base verb, not a noun phrase.

✕ She was reluctant to the meeting. ✓ She was reluctant to attend the meeting.

Overusing reluctant in

Reluctant in is possible but uncommon in everyday English.

✕ I'm reluctant in go. ✓ I'm reluctant to go.

Using about before a verb

Reluctant about is normally followed by a noun or noun phrase.

✕ He was reluctant about speak. ✓ He was reluctant to speak.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She was reluctant ___ share the information.
2. They're reluctant ___ the new policy.
3. The witness was reluctant ___ answering questions.

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Frequently asked questions

Is reluctant to the most common pattern?

Yes. It is the standard choice before actions and verbs.

Can reluctant about be used with people?

It is usually used with topics, plans, or decisions rather than people.

Is reluctant in natural in conversation?

It is uncommon in everyday speech and sounds formal or literary.

racist-in-against-for-to, towards "radical in" or "radical for"? rampant in, among, with, on or throughout? "rare in" or "rare for"? "rational for" or "rational in"? "raw in", "raw for" or "raw with"? reachable by, from, on, in or through? "reactive to", "reactive rather" or "reactive in"? ready for, to, in, at or by? "realistic about" or "realistic in"? "real to", "real for" or "real in"? rearing of, as or on?

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