hesitant
adjective
hes·i·tant
ˈhe-zə-tənt 
: slow to act or proceed (as from fear, indecision, or unwillingness) : tending to hesitate : showing or feeling reluctance or hesitation
took a hesitant step towards the door
hesitant about accepting the job
hesitantly
adverb
Examples of hesitant in a Sentence
She took a hesitant step back from the door.
He seems hesitant about accepting the job.
Recent Examples on the Web
Land in the county is expensive and scarce, and environmental risks like hurricanes and floods make developers hesitant to build large data centers in the county.
—
Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
What the restaurant represents to its supporters (and those hesitant but curious) is a shift in public interest in, and acceptance of bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadomasochism (BDSM).
—Victoria M. Walker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 May 2026
Tate said he was told that John Morris, the founder, was hesitant to bring the store to Grapevine and preferred a location in Irving.
—Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026
Yet in an industry where technological change is often forced on hesitant doctors by medical administrators, few services have seen such rapid adoption as OpenEvidence.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hesitant
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Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
What the restaurant represents to its supporters (and those hesitant but curious) is a shift in public interest in, and acceptance of bondage and discipline, dominance and submission, and sadomasochism (BDSM).
—Victoria M. Walker, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 May 2026
Tate said he was told that John Morris, the founder, was hesitant to bring the store to Grapevine and preferred a location in Irving.
—Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 May 2026
Yet in an industry where technological change is often forced on hesitant doctors by medical administrators, few services have seen such rapid adoption as OpenEvidence.
—Jared Perlo, NBC news, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for hesitant
Cite this Entry
“Hesitant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hesitant. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hesitant
adjective
hes·i·tant
ˈhez-ə-tənt
: tending to hesitate : slow to act or proceed
hesitantly
adverb
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