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

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

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

Don’t hesitate to reach out to your local election officials if you have questions.

From ProPublica

Don’t hesitate to reach out and I will get you the sign-up information.

From Washington Blade

Powell noted a risk, saying that “if excessive inflationary pressures were to build or inflation expectations were to ratchet above levels consistent with our goal,” the central bank wouldn’t hesitate to act.

From Fortune

When the UK government hesitates between several policies, it can get advice from the Koreans who have already faced a similar dilemma a month ago.

From Singularity Hub 

These folks are there to liaise and connect you with the right resources, so don’t hesitate to reach out.

From TechCrunch

He does not hesitate to hide some Marxist books from her library because she fears that the military could use them against her.

From The Daily Beast

When the group enters Terminus, Rick does not hesitate to fight.

From The Daily Beast

It also means that workers in the United States, like those in Spain, may hesitate to work around such patients.

From The Daily Beast

I hesitate to speculate on exactly where the problem is, though after spending some time with the paper I have my suspicions.

From The Daily Beast

Because of disability trolling, some people may hesitate to disclose their differences right away.

From The Daily Beast

Mr. Meadow Mouse did not hesitate to use it, being one of those fortunate folk that are quite at home anywhere.

From Project Gutenberg

He looked at her throat, and sighed, seemed to hesitate, and then bent suddenly down as if he were going to kiss it.

From Project Gutenberg

Many of the first connoisseurs, now hesitate whether to apply the epithet greatest to Guarnerius or to Stradiuarius.

From Project Gutenberg

Well might Sir Charles Hawkins hesitate to believe what the experience of sixty years has barely sufficed to make plain to us.

From Project Gutenberg

This is a salutary rule of the law, which the courts everywhere do not hesitate to enforce.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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