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
Arturo said quietly but without hesitation.
—
Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
Without hesitation, Miguel shoots Chet in the head, killing him instantly.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
His handle was tight and crisp, with serious hesitation and craft with his footwork.
—Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 12 June 2026
That hesitation to ride in an AV, however, is highly dependent on the specific situation, the study found.
—Ed Garsten, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026
Without hesitation, Miguel shoots Chet in the head, killing him instantly.
—Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
His handle was tight and crisp, with serious hesitation and craft with his footwork.
—Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 12 June 2026
That hesitation to ride in an AV, however, is highly dependent on the specific situation, the study found.
—Ed Garsten, Forbes.com, 11 June 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 21 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
