hesitation
noun
\
Definition of hesitation
Keep scrolling for more
Synonyms for hesitation
Synonyms
faltering, fence-sitting, hesitance, hesitancy, indecision, irresolution, pause, shilly-shally, shilly-shallying, vacillation, wavering, wobbling (also wabbling)
Visit the Thesaurus for More
Examples of hesitation in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Despite news Friday of growing hesitation at Amazon, state and city officials had the impression the project was still on course. — Katie Honan, WSJ, "Amazon Cancels HQ2 Plans in New York City," 15 Feb. 2019 Crawford continues, explaining that any sort of hesitation or awkwardness melted away once the shutter started snapping. — Steff Yotka, Vogue, "The American West Has Never Looked Better Than in Acne Studios’s New Images of Cindy Crawford," 25 Sep. 2018 For others, the fear of jumping into a brand-new environment leads to hesitation and inaction. — SELF, "7 Tips for Anyone Who Wants to Start Working Out but Doesn't Know Where to Begin," 10 Jan. 2019 Without hesitation, Fowler advanced the throttle and proceeded to fly the aircraft. — Chris Clarke, Popular Mechanics, "Super-Rare XP-82 Twin Mustang Flies Again After Decade-Long Restoration," 4 Jan. 2019 Part of the hesitation may be based in practicality. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Why Anna Kendrick Was 'Vulnerable and Terrified' While Getting Treated for Kidney Stones," 4 Feb. 2019 Some Democrats have expressed hesitation for a formal censure over comments made in a newspaper interview; the more formal rebuke is generally reserved for lawmakers who violate outlined House conduct. — Reid J. Epstein, WSJ, "House Lawmakers Formally Admonish Rep. Steve King for Racist Comments," 15 Jan. 2019 Any hesitations about ordering a mocktail at a bar should be banished, because there are bartenders who enjoy creating them. — Michaela Bechler, Vogue, "How to Make Dry January’s Most-Searched Mocktail," 7 Jan. 2019 When different parts of the image are harder to see, the human trainers have to think harder about their judgements of body language, which Perceptive can measure by tracking eye movement and hesitation. — Matt Simon, WIRED, "Why Did the Human Cross the Road? To Confuse the Self-Driving Car," 10 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hesitation.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on hesitation
What made you want to look up hesitation? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Original Meanings Quiz
-
- Which of the following is the earliest known sense of the word awe?
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Original Meanings Quiz
A quiz for the pedantic and those annoyed by them!
Take the quiz -
A Green Quiz
How many questions can you answer about the word "green"?
Take the quiz -
Name That Thing
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
Take the quiz -
Dictionary Devil
The dictionary has been scrambled—can you put it back together?
Play the game
Share hesitation
Resources for hesitation