Definitions for HESITATE
ˈhɛz ɪˌteɪthes·i·tate

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:4.0 / 2 votes

1. hesitate, waver, waffleverb

   pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

   "Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures"

2. hesitate, pauseverb

   interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

   "The speaker paused"

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. hesitateverb

   To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.

2. hesitateverb

   To stammer; to falter in speaking.

3. hesitateverb

   To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To HESITATEverb

   To be doubtful; to delay; to pause; to make difficulty.

   Etymology: hæsito, Latin; hesiter, French.

   A spirit of revenge makes him curse the Grecians in the seventh book, when they hesitate to accept Hector’s challenge. William Broome, Notes on the Iliad.

   Willing to wound, and yet afraid to strike,
   Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike;
   Alike reserv’d to blame or to commend,
   A tim’rous foe, and a suspicious friend. Alexander Pope.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. hesitate

   Hesitation or hesitating is the psychological process of pausing in the course of making a decision or taking an action, typically due to uncertainty as to the best course of action. Hesitation is described in both positive and negative terms, with some perceiving it as an indication of thoughtfulness, while others characterize it as a sign of indecisiveness or lack of the will to act. In literature, a period of hesitation on the part of a key character has sometimes been depicted as having substantial consequences.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. hesitate

   To hesitate is to pause or delay an action due to uncertainty or feeling unsure about a situation. It can also refer to the act of being indecisive or unwilling to make a decision immediately.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 2 votes

1. Hesitateverb

   to stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination; as, he hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often hesitate in forming a judgment

2. Hesitateverb

   to stammer; to falter in speaking

3. Hesitateverb

   to utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Hesitate

   hez′i-tāt, v.i. to stop in making a decision: to be in doubt: to stammer.—v.t. (rare) to express with hesitation.—ns. Hes′itancy, Hesitā′tion, wavering: doubt: stammering.—adj. Hes′itan't, hesitating.—adv. Hes′itātingly.—adj. Hes′itātive, showing hesitation.—n. Hes′itātor, one who hesitates.—adj. Hes′itātory, hesitating. [L. hæsitāre, -ātum, freq. of hærēre, hæsum, to stick.]

Matched Categories

1. • Delay

British National Corpus

1. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'HESITATE' in Verbs Frequency: #678

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

1. 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How to pronounce HESITATE?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say HESITATE in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of HESITATE in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of HESITATE in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of HESITATE in a Sentence

1. President Donald Trump:

   We are at a critical time in the fight against the virus, we made a life-saving move with early action on China. Now we must take the same action with Europe. We will not delay. I will never hesitate to take any necessary steps to protect the lives, health and safety of the American people. I will always put the well-being of America first.

2. Elizabeth Cady Stanton:

   The moment we begin to fear the opinions of others and hesitate to tell the truth that is in us, and from motives of policy are silent when we should speak, the divine floods of light and life no longer flow into our souls.

3. District Attorney Stephanie Bridgett:

   We are aware that there are possible additional fires here in our county that she may be linked to as well as other charges in other fires, statewide, my office will not hesitate to prosecute( any) person who either intentionally or recklessly starts a fire.

4. Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda:

   We won't hesitate adjusting policy, including easing policy, if necessary to achieve our 2 percent price target.

5. Mohamed Mouloudi:

   Political Islam will not give up its fight to come back politically in Algeria. when the state is weak like now with oil prices down and security threats over the borders, they do not hesitate to make noise.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=HESITATE
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Hesitate
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=HESITATE
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hesitate
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/HESITATE
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=HESITATE
8. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=HESITATE