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.
That hesitation quickly fled when the mask began to dry and tighten on the skin. Abby Dupes, StyleCaster, 5 Sep. 2025 So is the hesitation, the concern for consequence, and the mid-match questioning of how she is supposed to play. Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2025 And ambiguity, in my experience, often leads to hesitation. Peter Bendor-Samuel, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 Asking in the secret garden Travis's dad, Ed Kelce, had no hesitation sharing behind-the-scenes details shortly after the engagement post was viewed by millions. Bryan West, USA Today, 3 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hesitation. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on hesitation

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!