hesitant

[ hez-i-tuhnt ]

adjective

1. hesitating; undecided, doubtful, or disinclined.
2. lacking readiness of speech.

hesitant

/ ˈhɛzɪtənt /

adjective

1. wavering, hesitating, or irresolute

Derived Forms

• ˈhesitance, noun
• ˈhesitantly, adverb

Other Words From

• hesi·tant·ly adverb
• non·hesi·tant adjective
• non·hesi·tant·ly adverb
• un·hesi·tant adjective
• un·hesi·tant·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of hesitant¹

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”

Example Sentences

He was hesitant and fearful of the young marauder.

From BBC

Police are hesitant to go into the mine as some of those underground may be armed.

From BBC

“But in the same breath, they do say that they don’t want to be overpoliced. They are hesitant to call the police for help because they don’t show up on time.”

From Los Angeles Times

Serrano, 36, is also hesitant to reveal her purse but feels other female fighters can capitalise on the magnitude and success of her rivalry with Taylor.

From BBC

Gascón also noted jurors still remain hesitant to convict police, and sometimes plea deals are the best way to attain some measure of accountability.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• afraid
• averse
• doubtful
• halting
• indecisive
• loath
• reluctant
• shy
• skeptical
• slow
• tentative
• timid
• unsure
• unwilling