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hesitate Definition

hesi·tate (hez′i tāt′)

intransitive verb -·tat′ed, -·tat′·ing

  1. to stop because of indecision; pause or delay in acting, choosing, or deciding because of feeling unsure; waver
  2. to pause; stop momentarily
  3. to be reluctant; not be sure that one should hesitating to ask
  4. to pause continually in speaking; stammer

Etymology: < L haesitatus, pp. of haesitare, to stick fast, hesitate, intens. of haerere, to stick, cleave < IE base *ghais-, to be stuck, neglect > prob. Lith gaištù, to neglect

hesitate Related Forms

hes′i·tat′er noun or hes′i·ta′·tor hes′i·tat′·ingly adverb

hesitate Synonyms

hesitate

v.

falter, stutter, fluctuate, vacillate, pause, stop, hold off, hold back, be dubious, be uncertain, flounder, alternate, straddle, hover, scruple, balk, ponder, think about, defer, stay one's hand, delay, wait, think it over, change one's mind, trim, recoil, shy at, demur, dally, seesaw back and forth, not know what to do, be irresolute, pull back, catch one's breath, weigh and consider, oscillate, hang back, swerve, tergiversate, debate, shift, shrink, wait, deliberate, linger, balance, equivocate, think twice*, drag one's feet*, hang off*, shilly-shally*, hem and haw*, blow hot and cold*, dillydally*, straddle the fence*, leave up in the air*, make bones about*, hang in the air*, do figure eights*; see also stammer, waver.

Antonyms decide, resolve*, conclude.

hesitate Usage Examples

Object

  • moment: He hesitated a moment and then asked me my motive for wishing to be present at it.
  • instant: If he had hesitated an instant at the water's edge it would have been nothing.

Modifying Another Word

  • not: Mortgage lenders do not hesitate to make such claims.
  • n't: Do n't hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team on the number below should the hotel not respond to your claim.
  • never: They never hesitated to say how proud they were of me.
  • longer: Mark Twain no longer hesitated as to what he should do now.
  • slightly: Many of us will hesitate slightly before going into a room full of people.
  • even: It won't hesitate even for a fraction of a moment to defend itself " and Iran's government has pledged harsh resistance.

Used with why or when

when: And Peter Nicholas didn't exactly hesitate when the Swans came calling last week.

Infinitive complement

  • contact: Don't hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team on the number below should the hotel not respond to your claim.
  • recommend: I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you to my friends.
  • ask: Please do not hesitate to ask him for his opinions.
  • proclaim: For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God " .
  • call: Please do not hesitate to call us for further details!
  • let: Please do not hesitate to let us know of the good or bad side of your foray into the medical world with your PPS.

Present participle complement

  • visit: Do not hesitate visiting us and get reliable experts recommendations, useful.. .
  • call: Customers have shown more confidence in 0870 phone numbers and they donot hesitate calling 0870 number that costs them a national rate phone call.

Preposition: for

  • moment: He hesitated for a moment, then went on with his interrupted meditation.
  • second: Joe recalled how the other boy had hesitated just for a second before shaking his hand.
  • time: I had hesitated for a long time and had no courage to do it.