hesitant
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
- hesitance noun
- hesitantly adverb
- nonhesitant adjective
- nonhesitantly adverb
- unhesitant adjective
- unhesitantly adverb
Etymology
Origin of hesitant
First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin haesitant-, stem of haesitāns “faltering,” present participle of haesitāre “to falter, hesitate,” literally, “to stick repeatedly,” from haerēre “to stick, cling”
Explanation
When you’re feeling hesitant, you aren’t sure what to do, so instead of taking action you wait a little, biding your time until you figure out what option is best. The Latin word haesitant translates as “being undecided,” and not being able to decide is exactly what makes you hesitant. Being hesitant will make you hesitate for a bit, waiting to see what happens next. Nervousness or fear will make your actions hesitant, like when trying to walk across a rickety wooden bridge. Should you keep going or turn back? Your hesitant steps show that you’re still wrestling with that question. Whatever you decide, don’t look down.
Vocabulary lists containing hesitant
The Diary of Anne Frank
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In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
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The Hate U Give
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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.
Profits at Micron and its rivals have been soaring exponentially, but some investors have been hesitant to get too excited, as the memory market is known to deliver dramatic booms and then busts.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026
Previous city leaders were too hesitant to build temporary housing for homeless people, she said, leaving them to languish on sidewalks while waiting for government-funded apartments to be built.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026
Initially Chloe was hesitant to tell friends and family that she was being affected by infertility.
From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026
The lowered guidance stems from ongoing weakness in its network solutions group, particularly hesitant life sciences clients.
From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026
Phil takes a hesitant half-step closer to me.
From "Love, Hate & Other Filters" by Samira Ahmed
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.
