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hesitate

- 4 dictionary results

hes⋅i⋅tate

  [hez-i-teyt]
Use hesitate in a Sentence
–verb (used without object), -tat⋅ed, -tat⋅ing.
1. to be reluctant or wait to act because of fear, indecision, or disinclination: She hesitated to take the job.
2. to have scruples or doubts; be unwilling: He hesitated to break the law.
3. to pause: I hesitated before reciting the next line.
4. to falter in speech; stammer: Embarrassment caused the speaker to hesitate.
Origin:
1615–25; < L haesitātus, ptp. of haesitāre. See hesitant, -ate 1

Related forms:
hes⋅i⋅tat⋅er, hes⋅i⋅ta⋅tor, noun
hes⋅i⋅tat⋅ing⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. waver, vacillate, falter. 3. demur, delay.

Antonyms:
1. decide. 3. hasten.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To hesitate
hes·i·tate   (hěz'ĭ-tāt')   
intr.v.   hes·i·tat·ed, hes·i·tat·ing, hes·i·tates
    1. To be slow to act, speak, or decide.
    2. To pause in uncertainty; waver.
  2. To be reluctant.
  3. To speak haltingly; falter.

[Latin haesitāre, haesitāt-, to hesitate, frequentative of haerēre, to hold fast.]
hes'i·tat'er n., hes'i·tat'ing·ly adv.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to be uncertain, irresolute, or indecisive. To hesitate is to hold back or pause because of doubt or uncertainty: "A President either is constantly on top of events or, if he hesitates, events will soon be on top of him" (Harry S. Truman).
Vacillate implies going back and forth between alternative, usually conflicting courses: She vacillated about whether to go or to stay.
Waver suggests having second thoughts about a decision: After much wavering, he finally gave his permission.
To falter is to be unsteady in resolution or action: He resolved to ask for a raise but faltered when his boss entered the room.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Hesitate

Hes"i*tate\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hesitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Hesitating.] [L. haesitatus, p. p. of haesitare, intens. fr. haerere to hesitate, stick fast; to hang or hold fast. Cf. Aghast, Gaze, Adhere.]

1. To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination; as, he hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often hesitate in forming a judgment. --Pope.

2. To stammer; to falter in speaking.

Syn: To doubt; waver; scruple; deliberate; demur; falter; stammer.

Hesitate

Hes"i*tate\, v. t. To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner. [Poetic & R.]

Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike. --Pope.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : hesitate
Spanish: vacilar, titubear,
German: zögern,
Japanese: ためらう
More Translations »
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