intransitive verb

• 1Pause before saying or doing something, especially through uncertainty.

  ‘she hesitated, unsure of what to say’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Each of these icons should open a balloon help when the user hesitates over it with the mouse.’
  • ‘Men are almost twice as likely to pause or hesitate when they speak unlike women who are more fluent speakers.’
  • ‘They discovered that men are almost twice a likely as women to pause or hesitate when talking.’
  • ‘Before he could move up all the way to the top of the staircase, he paused, hesitating as he noticed no follower lemming behind him, glancing over the opened railing towards her.’
  • ‘Quickly, they headed towards the train station, not pausing or hesitating in any manner; what were they to hesitate for?’
  • ‘Angelique paused, hesitating - she obviously, Doremi noted, did not want to let the crown out of her hands.’
  • ‘Mikah paused, hesitating, then lifted his head again.’
  • ‘Having figured out what she was going to do, she was raising her hand when she paused, hesitating.’
  • ‘During its path along the template, RNA polymerase may encounter positions where it hesitates and pauses for a variable period of time.’
  • ‘But James stood at the plate, hesitating, unsure what to do next.’
  • ‘Ely moved closer, slowly, hesitating, unsure how she might react.’
  • ‘On the river bank the Rim troops were still hesitating, unsure what to do in the light of their quarry abruptly running back toward them.’
  • ‘Mankind, divided and confused, still hesitates, vacillates like a sleepwalker on the edge of an abyss.’
  • ‘There was no reason to hesitate or delay the implementation of the election pledges.’
  • ‘The road through this landscape moves with serpentine indecision: it rises, curves and double backs, hesitates, sinks, then curves back on itself once more.’
  • ‘The entire enterprise occupied about an hour of scampering, filling, waiting, rushing, hesitating, dashing, dipping, and dumping.’
  • ‘On a toss to the right side, Thurman beat Parker to the corner but stopped his feet, hesitating and waiting for Parker to make a move.’
  • ‘It slowly circled around me, not hesitating, simply waiting for the opportunity to present itself.’
  • ‘When she hangs up, Martina hesitates for a moment before pushing the sleeves of her sweater back over her suddenly cold arms.’
  • ‘They watched as Lauren fought on still, and Sarah hesitated, waiting for her.’

  Synonyms

  pause, delay, hang back, wait, shilly-shally, dither, stall, temporize, be in two minds, be in a quandary, be in a dilemma, be on the horns of a dilemma

  View synonyms

  1. 1.1with infinitive Be reluctant to do something.
     ‘he hesitated to spoil the mood by being inquisitive’
     More example sentences

     • ‘Should any further questions in this regard arise, please do not hesitate to contact the writer.’
     • ‘If you would like to donate money or material please do not hesitate to contact Tommy at his home address.’
     • ‘I do hope this clarifies the point you have raised and if I can be of any further help, please do not hesitate to contact me.’
     • ‘The clients I spoke with don't hesitate to make eye contact and pipe up with an opinion.’
     • ‘Please do not hesitate to let me know if any of my content or behavior makes you think I do not respect other people on the net.’
     • ‘All of the swimmers will be sponsored and if you are asked to chip a few euro into the kitty then please don't hesitate to do so.’
     • ‘If you have any further questions about the code of practice, please don't hesitate to ask.’
     • ‘Peter never hesitated to provide a phone number or contact to assist faculty.’
     • ‘She never hesitates to call on God or to encourage her colleagues and families to do the same.’
     • ‘I hesitate even to call it a review - hatchet job is more like it.’
     • ‘Why was this man hesitating to kill her?’
     • ‘Because some childhood seizures stop at puberty, doctors often hesitate to recommend surgery for children.’
     • ‘I realize it may be a delicate subject but I hesitate to ask.’
     • ‘Chris hesitated to ask because of the fear she might say no.’
     • ‘Would they have hesitated to use nuclear weapons if they had access to them?’
     • ‘I hesitate to recommend any video editing software that is freeware.’
     • ‘Why then do I hesitate to recommend it?’
     • ‘They wouldn't have hesitated to kill him quickly and be done with it.’
     • ‘So long as we're here they may hesitate to act, thinking that we might get hurt.’
     • ‘We hesitate to act because we're frightened by his threats.’
     Synonyms

     be reluctant, be unwilling, be disinclined, scruple

     View synonyms