hesitate
Americanverb (used without object)
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hesitates,
present (3rd person singular)
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hesitated,
past participle, past
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hesitating
present participle
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to be reluctant or wait to act because of fear, indecision, or disinclination.
She hesitated to take the job.
- Antonyms:
- decide
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to have scruples or doubts; be unwilling.
He hesitated to break the law.
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to pause.
I hesitated before reciting the next line.
- Antonyms:
- hasten
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to falter in speech; stammer.
Embarrassment caused the speaker to hesitate.
verb
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to hold back or be slow in acting; be uncertain
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to be unwilling or reluctant (to do something)
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to stammer or pause in speaking
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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hesitaternoun
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hesitationnoun
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hesitatornoun
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prehesitateverb (used without object)
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hesitativeadjective
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hesitatinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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hesitatesimple
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hesitatessimple
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have hesitatedperfect
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has hesitatedperfect
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am hesitatingprogressive
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are hesitatingprogressive
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is hesitatingprogressive
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have been hesitatingperfect progressive
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has been hesitatingperfect progressive
Past
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hesitatedsimple
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had hesitatedperfect
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was hesitatingprogressive
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were hesitatingprogressive
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had been hesitatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of hesitate
First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin haesitātus “faltered,” past participle of haesitāre “to falter”; see hesitant
Explanation
To hesitate is to pause before doing something, often out of concern or worry. If you're playing basketball and have a wide-open shot but don't take it right away, you hesitated. Maybe you felt too much pressure to shoot the ball. When people are nervous or worried, they tend to hesitate. Hesitating while speaking is common. In class, if you're not sure you have the right answer, you'll hesitate. When giving bad news, people often hesitate. Sometimes it makes sense to hesitate and sometimes you just need to do what you have to do.
Vocabulary lists containing hesitate
List 3
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"Fears and Phobias," Vocabulary from the article
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Frindle
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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.
See Examples For:
While I am not agreeing with Mr. Lederman’s essay, I would imagine that Cornell students who have any views about potential differences between men and women will hesitate before stating them publicly at this point.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
When asked who stood out at practice, Redick didn’t hesitate.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 30, 2026
Both Japan's Ministry of Finance and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said at the time that they would not hesitate to conduct more joint interventions in the future.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
He said he wouldn’t hesitate to act if the inflation picture worsened.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026
But he must have sensed me hesitate, because he said, “Alter, about that man you were talking about, you say a boy was found at his slaughterhouse?”
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
The Fed typically hesitates to respond to price spikes caused by changes in energy prices, which are known for being bumpy, but she said the persistent overshoot might make that "harder to do this time".
From BBC ● Mar. 11, 2026
Most people recognize the familiar situation at a restaurant or dinner party when one plate arrives early and the person served hesitates to start eating.
From Science Daily ● Jan. 12, 2026
And while one hesitates to say “in spite of,” Ms. Naud has cultivated a healthy career in genre films with a very prominent nevus, or birthmark, under her right eye.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 9, 2025
That is the case for Lucia May, aged four, who hesitates as she looks at skulls peeking from wooden boxes, some still with some hair.
From Barron's ● Oct. 22, 2025
Finnick hesitates, but no one can stay awake forever.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
Continental was one of several U.S. oil companies that had hesitated for months to commit large amounts of capital to Venezuela.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
Family described him as a kind and humble man who worked hard and never hesitated to help others.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
He hesitated before adding, “And you’ll have to call my college. Tell them I won’t be able to attend.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026
Londoner Chisora - now with 14 defeats - had said beforehand it would be his last fight, but he hesitated to confirm his retirement when joined in the ring by his family.
From BBC ● Apr. 4, 2026
Ophie hesitated, because she didn’t want to say anything the ghost didn’t want to hear.
From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland
But experts have worried that doctors are hesitating to offer treatment without an ironclad diagnosis, which clinicians say can take time and increase risks to the mother.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2026
Participants at the Santa Marta meeting believe the real purpose of the meeting is to show those who are hesitating about the transition that there is a critical mass moving in favour of renewables.
From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026
The U.S. didn’t become the world’s financial center by hesitating in moments of technological change.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 8, 2026
That removed a near-term overhang on the stock, but private lenders are hesitating to back its plans, according to Schwartz.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 25, 2026
Anat sat in one of the seats in the first row, and Molly crouched in front of her, hesitating for just a second.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
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.
