Hesitate
To pause before acting or speaking, typically due to doubt, uncertainty, or caution.
verbHesitate
To pause before acting or speaking, typically due to doubt, uncertainty, or caution.
verbImagine This
Picture someone standing at a doorway with friends calling them to join. They hesitate, glance left and right, words trailing as they weigh the choice before stepping through.
Sounds Like
pronounced HEZ-i-teyt; sounds like 'hesi-tate'.
Looks Like
Contains the contiguous sequence 'sit' in the middle (heSITate), hinting at pausing before proceeding.
Remember This
Remember that hesitate is the verb form; the noun is hesitation and the adjective is hesitant.
Other Forms
Connect With
pause, delay, waver, vacillate, falter, dither
Note
Common usage: hesitate to do something or hesitate before doing something. Do not confuse with hesitant (adjective) or hesitation (noun). In formal writing, avoid overusing synonyms like 'waver' when a precise sense of pause is required.