English Dictionary

Definition of “hesitate”

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hesitate (ˈhɛzɪˌteɪtPronunciation for hesitate) 

Definitions

verb (intr)

  1. to hold back or be slow in acting; be uncertain
  2. to be unwilling or reluctant (to do something)
  3. to stammer or pause in speaking

Alternative Forms

ˈhesiˌtater ˈhesiˌtator noun ˈhesiˌtatingly adverb ˌhesiˈtation noun ˈhesiˌtative adjective

Word Origin

C17: from Latin haesitāre,  from haerēre to cling to

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= waver, delay, pause, haver, wait, doubt, falter, be uncertain dither, vacillate, equivocate, temporize, hum and haw, shillyshally, swither,
= be reluctant be unwilling shrink from think twice, boggle, scruple, demur, hang back, be disinclined balk or baulk
= stumble, fumble, stammer, stutter, hem and haw or hum and haw

Quotations

  • "You can hesitate before deciding, but not once the decision is made" José Bergamín
  • "It's all right to hesitate if you then go ahead" Bertolt Brecht
  • "He who hesitates is lost"

Translations

  • British English: hesitate Pronunciation for hesitate If you hesitate, you pause slightly while you are doing something or just before you do it, usually because you are uncertain, embarrassed, or worried.She hesitated before replying.ˈhɛzɪˌteɪt VERB She hesitated before replying.
  • Spanish: vacilar Pronunciation for vacilar v
  • French: hésiter Pronunciation for hésiter vi
  • German: zögern Pronunciation for zögern v
  • Chinese: 犹豫Pronunciation for 犹豫 v
  • Arabic: يَتَرَدَّدُPronunciation for يَتَرَدَّدُ vi
  • Portuguese: hesitarPronunciation for hesitar v
  • Russian: колебатьсяPronunciation for колебаться v
  • Croatian: oklijevatiPronunciation for oklijevati v
  • Czech: zaváhatPronunciation for zaváhat v váhat
  • Danish: tøvePronunciation for tøve v
  • Dutch: twijfelenPronunciation for twijfelen v
  • Finnish: epäröidäPronunciation for epäröidä v
  • Greek: διστάζωPronunciation for διστάζω v
  • Italian: esitarePronunciation for esitare v
  • Japanese: ためらうPronunciation for ためらう v
  • Korean: 주저하다Pronunciation for 주저하다 v
  • Norwegian: nølePronunciation for nøle v
  • Polish: zawahać sięPronunciation for zawahać się v wahać się
  • Brazilian Portuguese: hesitarPronunciation for hesitar v
  • European Spanish: vacilar Pronunciation for vacilar v
  • Swedish: tvekaPronunciation for tveka v
  • Thai: ลังเลใจPronunciation for ลังเลใจ v
  • Turkish: duraksamakPronunciation for duraksamak v
  • Vietnamese: do dựPronunciation for do dự v

Usage examples

  • And of course, if you need any advice filling in the forms, don't hesitate to call me.
    Val McDermid, KICK BACK (2002)
  • Some members of the community consider such questions a waste of their time, and won't hesitate to say so.
    Spiked (2003)
  • But he said if mediation fails, the employers won't hesitate to seek a court injunction to end the strike.
    canada.com (2004)
  • Hart, who cannot afford to offer him a new contract, said: "I didn't hesitate about asking Chris to be my captain.
    Sun, News of the World (2001)
  • They should not hesitate too much over taking action, or they will be left far behind their opponents.
    Rocky Siu-Kwong Sung, ROCKY SUNG'S GUIDE TO CHINESE ASTROLOGY AND FENG SHUI 2003 (2002)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'H'

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