hesitation
Americannoun
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hesitations
plural
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the act of hesitating; a delay due to uncertainty of mind or fear.
His hesitation cost him the championship.
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a state of doubt or uncertainty.
- Synonyms:
- vacillation, irresolution, indecision, hesitancy
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a halting or faltering in speech.
- Synonyms:
- stammer
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of hesitation
First recorded in 1615–25, hesitation is from the Latin word haesitātiōn- (stem of haesitātiō ). See hesitate, -ion
Explanation
A hesitation is a pause. If your friend asks you, "Do you like my new haircut?" you'd better make sure there's not a second's hesitation before you answer, "Yes, of course!" Hesitation happens when you feel uncertainty or doubt. It can be a pause in speech, a faltering moment before you act, or a silent second of indecision. If your friend's dog is growling and staring you down, but she tells you he won't bite, that feeling that something not feeling right that stops you from petting him is hesitation. The Latin root of hesitation is haesitationem, which means irresolution or uncertainty.
Vocabulary lists containing hesitation
Unit 1: Telling Details
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Catching Fire
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Slam!
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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:
As for Naicker, there was no hesitation in airing what his team had captured, even with the realisation of the magnitude of what was unfolding.
From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026
Still, the market’s hesitation to price in oversupply seems justifiable, as it likely considers the current upswing in Middle East exports to be unsustainable, he says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
And then there is Bolivian chef Marsia Taha, who used the festival to introduce diners to an ingredient they might otherwise approach with some hesitation.
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
I understand your hesitation: You don’t want to present your generosity as an endless well of support.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026
They reached the island after sunset and made camp on the shore with no hesitation at all.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Retailers with hesitations cite concerns over controlling consumer data, the customer experience, fraudulent purchases and inventory hoarding.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Chesney wants his squad to play without any limitations or hesitations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 2, 2026
Let’s start with the big “why” for your efforts, because that may solve all of your hesitations in one fell swoop.
From MarketWatch ● Jan. 14, 2026
When you do have moments where you go I think this might be going too far or This is too mean-spirited, how do those hesitations manifest for you?
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2025
As soon as I get beyond the gate, we run toward each other, all three of us embracing, all hesitations and expectations forgotten.
From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan
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.
