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

At the center of KeyBanc’s hesitation is Starship, the giant reusable rocket that Musk, the CEO, has described as critical to the future of satellite deployment, deep-space exploration and, eventually, colonization of Mars. —Yun Li, CNBC, 22 June 2026

LaGore further contextualizes current hesitation toward intermodal adoption within organizational memory and operational inertia. —Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 22 June 2026

Interactions intended to feel seamless create hesitation instead. —Patricia Camden, Fortune, 20 June 2026

To eliminate any hesitation about buying ahead of the official rush, HBADA is backing all purchases during this lead-up phase with a strict Price Match Guarantee. —New Atlas, 19 June 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