hesitation
noun
hes·i·ta·tion
ˌhe-zə-ˈtā-shən 
1
: an act or instance of hesitating
A moment's hesitation could have meant disaster.
I would do it again without hesitation.
2
: a pausing or faltering in speech
Examples of hesitation in a Sentence
one moment's hesitation on my part, and the elusive butterfly was lost to me forever
Recent Examples on the Web
For Ahmad, the financial aspect contributed to his initial hesitation about seeking out matchmaking services.
—
Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Did that contribute to your decision to run or cause any hesitation?
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
And in a world where AI and automation reward early adopters disproportionately, hesitation compounds fast.
—Erik Huberman, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
Despite initial hesitations, the method clearly paid off.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
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Lauren Fichten, CBS News, 14 Feb. 2026
Did that contribute to your decision to run or cause any hesitation?
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
And in a world where AI and automation reward early adopters disproportionately, hesitation compounds fast.
—Erik Huberman, Rolling Stone, 11 Feb. 2026
Despite initial hesitations, the method clearly paid off.
—Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Cite this Entry
“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hesitation. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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