hesitate
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to be reluctant or wait to act because of fear, indecision, or disinclination.
She hesitated to take the job.
- Antonyms:
- decide
-
to have scruples or doubts; be unwilling.
He hesitated to break the law.
-
to pause.
I hesitated before reciting the next line.
- Antonyms:
- hasten
-
to falter in speech; stammer.
Embarrassment caused the speaker to hesitate.
verb
-
to hold back or be slow in acting; be uncertain
-
to be unwilling or reluctant (to do something)
-
to stammer or pause in speaking
Other Word Forms
- hesitater noun
- hesitatingly adverb
- hesitation noun
- hesitative adjective
- hesitator noun
- prehesitate verb (used without object)
Etymology
Origin of hesitate
First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin haesitātus “faltered,” past participle of haesitāre “to falter”; hesitant
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Plans know that supplemental benefits are a big draw and hesitate to make cuts—especially to the “table stakes” benefits of dental, vision, and hearing,” says Robin Duddy-Tenbrunsel, principal at Avalere Health, a consultancy.
From Barron's
Babs hesitates for a second, like she’s about to say something else, but then another table calls for her.
From Literature
Blonde hair, broad smile, arms glistening with sweat from the heat, she didn’t hesitate: she hugged us immediately.
From Salon
Jackson hesitated, with one hand already hoisting the shepherd’s pie dish.
From Literature
Developing the ability to deploy platoons of robots that can carry out orders without hesitating also speaks to skepticism in Beijing about the reliability of PLA mission commanders.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
