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

Synonyms of hesitation

• hesitancy
• hesitance
• pause
• delay

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

By the end of the day, Gallagher was hooked on the game, in part thanks to a coach who likely sensed his hesitation and put him straight to work. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2026

Colbert had no hesitation about taking the tool to his facial hair, shaving it off and returning to his recognizable clean-shaven look. — Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026

But their hesitation to see the prolonged conflict continue suggests the impacts are increasingly wearing on Americans, and particularly on Iowans. — CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026

Specifically, the report found that students at UC Davis trust officials to defend speech and now have less hesitation in expressing themselves. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hesitation

• without hesitation

Rhymes for hesitation

• abdication
• aberration
• abjuration
• abnegation
• abrogation
• acceptation
• acclamation
• acclimation
• accusation
• activation
• actuation
• acylation