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

That hesitation disappeared in April 1999, when The Beatles' founding member opened his first art exhibition in Westphalia, Siegen. —Alex Apatoff, PEOPLE, 28 Nov. 2025

My hesitation was unwarranted, however, as these shoes were more than up to the challenge. —Anne Taylor, Travel + Leisure, 26 Nov. 2025

Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry warned against hesitation, arguing that decisions on frozen Russian assets and Ukraine’s EU accession will determine the bloc’s future security. —Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025

Alongside skepticism toward routine childhood and some adult vaccines, veterinarians are seeing the same hesitation spread to pets. —Henry I. Miller, Boston Herald, 25 Nov. 2025

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