What does HESITATE mean?
Definitions for HESITATE
ˈhɛz ɪˌteɪthes·i·tate
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word HESITATE.
Princeton's WordNet
hesitate, waver, waffleverb
pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
"Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures"
hesitate, pauseverb
interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
"The speaker paused"
Wiktionary
hesitateverb
To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.
hesitateverb
To stammer; to falter in speaking.
hesitateverb
To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
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.
Wikipedia
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.
ChatGPT
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 Dictionary
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
Hesitateverb
to stammer; to falter in speaking
Hesitateverb
to utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
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
British National Corpus
Verbs Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'HESITATE' in Verbs Frequency: #678
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of HESITATE in Chaldean Numerology is: 1
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of HESITATE in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6
Examples of HESITATE in a Sentence
Being a part of such a historical night that honors my peers and Country Music is such a privilege, when I was asked if Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning was someone I would consider co-hosting with I didn't hesitate. We have become great friends through the years and what Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning brings to the table is gon na make it even more of a blast. I know Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning's been to the CMA Awards before, but Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning's never been with me. Hey Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, I hope you're ready for the night of your life !
We have not raised this yet with the Russian Federation. If we feel that such outreach through our embassy in Moscow or otherwise would be productive in terms of finding more information on the whereabouts of these individuals, we won't hesitate to do that.
I had all these preconceived ideas about Mary Magdalene and about religion in general, a lot of baggage that made me hesitate, it wasn't until speaking to Garth Davis and looking at the story as an adult, without that baggage from Catholic school, that I could strip it back and see it with fresh eyes.
If you disagree with them, they don't hesitate to use violence, that's not the kind of group that I think our leaders should be standing with.
If there is a legal threat that will cause them to hesitate (to issue), that will provide some natural stability.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for HESITATE
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- ترددArabic
- заекна, колебая се, чудя се, заеквам, двоумя сеBulgarian
- hesitarCatalan, Valencian
- zaváhat, váhatCzech
- stamme, hakkeDanish
- zögern, stammelnGerman
- vacilar, dudarSpanish
- دریغPersian
- empiä, epäröidä, viivytellä, vitkastella, aikaillaFinnish
- hésiterFrench
- sòrScottish Gaelic
- संकोचHindi
- raguIndonesian
- 躊躇する, ためらうJapanese
- dubitoLatin
- zéckenLuxembourgish, Letzeburgesch
- tawhitawhiMāori
- aarzelenDutch
- nøleNorwegian
- wahać się, jąkać sięPolish
- hesitarPortuguese
- iskayyayQuechua
- pregeta, șovăi, codi, ezitaRomanian
- запнуться, запинаться, медлить, заикнуться, сомневаться, колебаться, заикатьсяRussian
- tvekaSwedish
- ลังเลThai
- çekinmek, kararsız kalmakTurkish
- вагатисьUkrainian
- 迟疑Chinese
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