hesitate meaning

UK /ˈhɛzɪteɪt/ US /ˈhɛzəteɪt/ 3 syllables

hesitate (verb): pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness.

hesitate has 2 meanings in this dictionary.

hesitate as a verb

  1. pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
    • Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures

    Synonyms: waver, waffle

    Kinds: dwell on, boggle, hover, falter

    Related forms: hesitant, hesitation, hesitater, hesitancy, hesitator

  2. interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
    • The speaker paused

    Synonyms: pause

    Type of: delay

    Kinds: hem and haw, scruple

    Related forms: hesitation, hesitater

How to pronounce hesitate

hesitate is pronounced /ˈhɛzɪteɪt/ in British English and /ˈhɛzəteɪt/ in American English. It has 3 syllables, with the stress on the first syllable.

Word lists: words starting with HE · words ending in TE · 8-letter words

More about hesitate on Wikipedia.