Hesitate

/ˈhɛzɪteɪt/

Meaning & Definition

verb

to pause before saying or doing something, often due to uncertainty or indecision.

She didn't hesitate to express her opinion about the matter.

to be reluctant or undecided about whether to do something.

He hesitated before accepting the job offer.

to delay or postpone an action.

They hesitated to make the final decision until more information was provided.

The word 'hesitate' comes from the Latin 'hesitare', which means 'to stick' or 'to be uncertain'.

hesitate to act

to delay in taking action due to uncertainty.

never hesitate

to encourage someone to act without delay.

indecision

the inability to make a decision quickly.

doubt

a feeling of uncertainty about something.

pause

a temporary stop in action or speech.

to think twice

Don't think twice, just do it; stop hesitating.

to sit on the fence

He's just sitting on the fence about which offer to accept.