hesitate

verb
UK: /ˈhez.ɪ.teɪt/
US: /ˈhez.ə.teɪt/

  1. To pause before doing something, especially because you are nervous or not sure.

    1. Don't hesitate to ask if you need help.
    2. She didn't hesitate for a moment before jumping into the water.

  2. To be slow to speak or act because you feel uncertain or unwilling.

    1. He seemed to hesitate before answering the question.
    2. If you hesitate too long, you might miss the opportunity to apply.

Synonyms

vacillate delay falter waver pause
hesitate noun

  1. A pause or delay due to uncertainty or reluctance.

    1. There was a slight hesitate in his voice.
    2. After a brief hesitate, she accepted the invitation to the party.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "hesitate" in English means: To pause before doing something, especially because you are nervous or not sure., To be slow to speak or act because you feel uncertain or unwilling..

The phonetic transcription of "hesitate" is /ˈhez.ɪ.teɪt/ in British English and /ˈhez.ə.teɪt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "hesitate": vacillate, delay, falter, waver, pause.

Example usage of "hesitate": "Don't hesitate to ask if you need help.". More examples on the page.