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hesitation

0 antonyms and opposites of hesitation, grouped by meaning.

Noun — A brief pause caused by uncertainty or reluctance before acting or deciding.

How to use hesitation

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

without hesitation a moment of hesitation show hesitation

Etymology

From Latin haesitātiō ("a stammering, hesitating"), from haesitare ("to hesitate").

Full origin of hesitation →

Frequently asked questions

What does “hesitation” mean?

The word “hesitation” means a brief pause caused by uncertainty or reluctance before acting or deciding. In plain terms, a pause or delay caused by doubt about what to do.

How do you pronounce “hesitation”?

“Hesitation” is pronounced heh-zih-TAY-shuhn (/ˌhɛzɪˈteɪʃən/ in IPA).

How do you use “hesitation” in a sentence?

Here is “hesitation” used in a sentence: “She answered without hesitation.”

What is another word for “hesitation”?

Words with a similar meaning to “hesitation” include hesitance, hesitancy and hold-up.

What part of speech is “hesitation”?

“Hesitation” is a noun.

Where does the word “hesitation” come from?

The word “hesitation” comes from Latin. From Latin haesitātiō ("a stammering, hesitating"), from haesitare ("to hesitate").

Is “hesitation” a common word?

“Hesitation” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

What is the difference between hesitation and hesitancy?

Hesitation typically refers to a specific, brief pause before acting or deciding, while hesitancy describes a more general tendency or disposition toward being uncertain. In practice the two words overlap heavily and are often used interchangeably.

What is a common collocation using the word hesitation?

"Without hesitation" is a very common phrase, used to describe acting or answering immediately and confidently, with no pause caused by doubt. "A moment's hesitation" is another frequent pairing describing a brief pause before someone acts.

What is the difference between hesitation and reluctance?

Hesitation describes the brief pause itself, caused by uncertainty, before a person acts or decides. Reluctance describes an unwillingness or disinclination to do something at all, which may or may not involve a visible pause.

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.