hesitate

[ hez-i-teyt ]

verb (used without object)

, hes·i·tat·ed, hes·i·tat·ing.

1. to be reluctant or wait to act because of fear, indecision, or disinclination:

   She hesitated to take the job.

   Synonyms: falter, vacillate, waver

   Antonyms: decide

2. to have scruples or doubts; be unwilling:

   He hesitated to break the law.

3. to pause:

   I hesitated before reciting the next line.

   Synonyms: delay, demur

   Antonyms: hasten

4. to falter in speech; stammer:

   Embarrassment caused the speaker to hesitate.

hesitate

/ ˈhɛzɪˌteɪt /

verb

1. to hold back or be slow in acting; be uncertain
2. to be unwilling or reluctant (to do something)
3. to stammer or pause in speaking

Derived Forms

• ˈhesiˌtative, adjective
• ˌhesiˈtation, noun
• ˈhesiˌtater, noun
• ˈhesiˌtatingly, adverb

Other Words From

• hesi·tater hesi·tator noun
• hesi·tating·ly adverb
• pre·hesi·tate verb (used without object) prehesitated prehesitating

Word History and Origins

Origin of hesitate¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin haesitātus “faltered,” past participle of haesitāre “to falter”; hesitant

Word History and Origins

Origin of hesitate¹

C17: from Latin haesitāre, from haerēre to cling to

Example Sentences

One issue on which Trump may hesitate to buck public opinion: Abortion.

From Los Angeles Times

She did not hesitate to choose the latter — a sweet reward for her seven-under-par 65 that set a City Section finals scoring record and earned her a third straight individual championship at Balboa Golf Course in Encino.

From Los Angeles Times

Some professors hesitate to grade accurately because of student evaluations, which are often more negative for tough graders.

From Los Angeles Times

The same is true of employers: One in six say they hesitate to hire recent college graduates because they tend to be underprepared and poor at communicating.

From Los Angeles Times

Asked if she thought mass incarceration based on ethnicity could happen again in America, Kosaka did not hesitate: “Absolutely, yes. When people stop caring about each other, yeah, I think it could happen in the future.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• balk
• dither
• falter
• pause
• ponder
• stumble
• waffle
• waver