hesitation
1 antonym for hesitation — opposites grouped by meaning.
Noun — A brief pause caused by uncertainty or reluctance before acting or deciding.
Antonyms
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.
