hesitation
Americannoun
-
the act of hesitating; a delay due to uncertainty of mind or fear.
His hesitation cost him the championship.
-
a state of doubt or uncertainty.
- Synonyms:
- vacillation, irresolution, indecision, hesitancy
-
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.
Hesitation to hire as employers await the onset of AI could also play a role, especially at large companies that are able to deploy AI sooner.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026
Other programme highlights include the London premiere of Hesitation Wound, which scooped up an award at the Zurich Film Festival.
From BBC • May 25, 2024
They saw off a challenge from American rockers Nine Inch Nails and their latest album "Hesitation Marks".
From Reuters • Sep. 8, 2013
Hesitation in their backline at the time of an Aaron Doran cross led to Nick Ross picking up the loose ball and scoring past the returning Fraser Forster.
From The Guardian • Feb. 9, 2013
Without the least Hesitation, he gain’d his Point, and was proclaim’d Victor before Zadig was awake.
From Zadig Or, The Book of Fate by Voltaire
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.
