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
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
Over time, this hesitation creates cognitive overload, last-minute scrambling and fewer growth opportunities for other leaders.
—
Dilan Gomih, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
According to Tuff, what causes leaders to miss these paradigm shifts is not ignorance but hesitation.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
At first, the hesitation was uncomfortable for both of us.
—Janelle Jones, Parents, 28 Jan. 2026
So, while there is excitement, there’s also a little bit of hesitation to feel that excitement as well.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
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Dilan Gomih, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
According to Tuff, what causes leaders to miss these paradigm shifts is not ignorance but hesitation.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
At first, the hesitation was uncomfortable for both of us.
—Janelle Jones, Parents, 28 Jan. 2026
So, while there is excitement, there’s also a little bit of hesitation to feel that excitement as well.
—Julian McKenzie, New York Times, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Cite this Entry
“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hesitation. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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