hesitation
heh-zih-TAY-shuhn
Hesitation (noun) means a brief pause caused by uncertainty or reluctance before acting or deciding. Example: “She answered without hesitation.”
noun
1
A brief pause caused by uncertainty or reluctance before acting or deciding.
"She answered without hesitation."
"There was a moment of hesitation before he agreed to help."
How to use hesitation
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA pause or delay caused by doubt about what to do.
Common pairings
without hesitation
a moment of hesitation
show hesitation
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Word forms
- Plural
- hesitations
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She answered without _____.
Etymology
From Latin haesitātiō ("a stammering, hesitating"), from haesitare ("to hesitate").
Synonyms
View more →
pause
wavering
indecision
second thoughts
dithering
disinclination
indisposition
falter
faltering
hesitance
hesitancy
hold-up
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for hesitation
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for 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.
