hesitation

noun

hes·​i·​ta·​tion ˌhe-zə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce hesitation (audio)
Synonyms of hesitation
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

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Barbera and his team then decided to go ahead and hold the presser after online observers blasted Venice’s hesitation to cancel it as a move to shield jury members from being quizzed about politics. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026 Someone may be ready to build with you, but hesitation, mixed signals, or too many moving pieces could slow the process down. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026 Woodley also joked about her longstanding hesitation around discussing the franchise, even more than a decade after the movie’s release. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026 But the full game tape shows those are few and far between — his hesitation and questionable decisions make the lowlights a near-constant. — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hesitation

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hesitation was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing hesitation

Rhymes for hesitation

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Browse Nearby Words

hesitatingly
hesitation
hesitation form
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Cite this Entry

“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hesitation. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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