hesitation

noun
UK: /ˌhezɪˈteɪʃən/
US: /ˌhezɪˈteɪʃən/

  1. The act of pausing before doing something, often because you are nervous or not sure.

    1. After a moment's hesitation, she agreed to help me.
    2. There was a slight hesitation in his voice when he mentioned the accident.

  2. A pause or delay caused by feeling uncertain or unwilling to do something.

    1. I have no hesitation in recommending her for the job.
    2. Despite my initial hesitation, I found the experience very rewarding for my personality.

Synonyms

delay reluctance doubt indecision pause
hesitation intransitive-verb

  1. To pause or be slow in acting or speaking because you are nervous or unsure.

    1. Don't hesitate to call me if you need anything.
    2. If you hesitate too long, you might miss the chance to grab the deal.
hesitation transitive-verb

  1. To be reluctant or have doubts about doing something.

    1. She hesitated to accept the offer at first.
    2. He hesitated before answering the question, considering his choice of words.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "hesitation" in English means: The act of pausing before doing something, often because you are nervous or not sure., A pause or delay caused by feeling uncertain or unwilling to do something..

The phonetic transcription of "hesitation" is /ˌhezɪˈteɪʃən/ in British English and /ˌhezɪˈteɪʃən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "hesitation": delay, reluctance, doubt, indecision, pause.

Example usage of "hesitation": "After a moment's hesitation, she agreed to help me.". More examples on the page.