hesitation

noun

hes·​i·​ta·​tion ˌhe-zə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce hesitation (audio)
1
: an act or instance of hesitating
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
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.
And if a player is Premier League-proven, there is also less hesitation to pay big sums of money to other domestic clubs. Pol Ballús, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025 Now ready for pre-sale, the Sync Oven and Sync Air Fryer exemplify an idea beyond a kitchen tool, one that replaces hesitation with clarity and guesswork with certainty. Matt Emma, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025 Not in the spectacle, but in the silence, the hesitation, the uncertainty. Maureen Lee Lenker, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2025 A little hesitation step as Nacua approached the safety got Gardner-Johnson to bite, settling down to react to a breaking route. Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 11 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hesitation

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hesitation was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hesitation. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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