hesitate
verb
hes·i·tate
ˈhe-zə-ˌtāt 
hesitated; hesitating
1
: to hold back in doubt or indecision
She didn't hesitate when they offered her the job.
2
: to delay momentarily : pause
He hesitated and waited for her to say something.
3
: stammer
: to hold back from (doing or saying something) in doubt or uncertainty
Don't hesitate to call if you need something.
hesitater
noun
Examples of hesitate in a Sentence
She hesitated and waited for her friend to say something.
He hesitated about accepting the job.
I sometimes hesitate to say what I am really thinking.
I hesitated to come without being asked.
I wouldn't hesitate to ask for your help if I felt I needed it.
Don't hesitate to call if there is a problem.
Recent Examples on the Web
But initially, even the K-Pop industry hesitated.
—
Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
And because Vrabel has not hesitated to part with players better than White, the buy-in better be there.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Healthcare hesitated with diagnostic AI until error rates dropped and clinicians saw the benefit.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
If uncertainty persists, businesses will hesitate; that's a real concern right now.
—Michaila Byrne, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitate
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Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 Sep. 2025
And because Vrabel has not hesitated to part with players better than White, the buy-in better be there.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025
Healthcare hesitated with diagnostic AI until error rates dropped and clinicians saw the benefit.
—Ron Schmelzer, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
If uncertainty persists, businesses will hesitate; that's a real concern right now.
—Michaila Byrne, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitate
Cite this Entry
“Hesitate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hesitate. Accessed 24 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hesitate
verb
hes·i·tate
ˈhez-ə-ˌtāt
hesitated; hesitating
1
: to stop or pause because of uncertainty or indecision
hesitate before answering
2
: to be unwilling
hesitate to ask a favor
3
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