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
So there's no hesitation in that regard.
—
Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
Tuesday's result capped a tumultuous final month that saw national Republican condemnation, Democratic hesitation and equivocation, and a barrage of attack ads.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
There was no hesitation from Duke’s Diaz, who kept the offense on the field and Mensah quickly found Hagans for the decisive points.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Living in New York City added another layer to his hesitation.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
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Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025
Tuesday's result capped a tumultuous final month that saw national Republican condemnation, Democratic hesitation and equivocation, and a barrage of attack ads.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
There was no hesitation from Duke’s Diaz, who kept the offense on the field and Mensah quickly found Hagans for the decisive points.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2025
Living in New York City added another layer to his hesitation.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Cite this Entry
“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hesitation. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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