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Hesitating: meaning, definitions and examples

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hesitating

 

[ ˈhɛzɪˌteɪtɪŋ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

indecision

To hesitate means to pause before deciding or acting, often because of uncertainty or indecision. It can also involve a reluctance to proceed or a lack of confidence in one's choices.

Synonyms

dither, pause, vacillate, waver.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
hesitating

Used when someone is briefly unsure about making a decision or taking action.

  • She was hesitating before she made the call
  • He was hesitating at the door, unsure if he should enter
pause

Used when someone stops briefly before continuing, often to consider or think.

  • He paused for a moment to gather his thoughts
  • She paused before answering the question
waver

Used when someone is showing signs of weakness or indecision, often due to hesitation.

  • She started to waver in her determination
  • His resolve wavered when he heard the bad news
dither

Used when someone is acting indecisive or unable to make a decision, often in a slightly negative or critical way.

  • Stop dithering and make a choice! She was dithering over which dress to buy
vacillate

Used when someone repeatedly changes their mind, showing uncertainty and indecisiveness.

  • He tends to vacillate between options
  • The committee vacillated for weeks before making a decision

Examples of usage

  • She hesitated before accepting the job offer.
  • I could see him hesitating before making a decision.
  • Don't hesitate to ask for help if you need it.
Context #2 | Verb

speech

In speech, to hesitate is to falter or pause in the delivery of words, often due to nervousness, lack of preparation, or emotional intensity.

Synonyms

falter, hesitate, stammer, stutter.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
hesitating

Used when someone is pausing before doing or saying something because they are unsure or nervous.

  • She was hesitating before answering the question.
  • He started hesitating when asked if he had finished his homework.
stammer

Used to describe speaking with sudden involuntary pauses and a tendency to repeat the initial sounds of words, typically caused by nervousness or speech disorders.

  • He began to stammer when asked about his role in the project.
  • She tried to respond, but her words came out in a stammer.
falter

Used when someone is starting to lose strength or momentum, or when their voice begins to waver due to fear or uncertainty.

  • His confidence began to falter during the presentation.
  • You could hear her resolve falter as she spoke about the incident.
stutter

Similar to 'stammer', it also refers to speaking with repeated sounds or syllables, often due to a speech impediment or nervousness.

  • He used to stutter a lot as a child, but has improved with therapy.
  • She started to stutter when speaking in front of the class.
hesitate

Used to indicate a brief pause or delay due to indecision, doubt, or caution.

  • Do not hesitate to contact me if you need help.
  • He did not hesitate to jump into the water to save the child.

Examples of usage

  • She hesitated while giving her speech.
  • The actor hesitated for a moment before delivering his lines.

Translations

Translations of the word "hesitating" in other languages:

🇵🇹 hesitando

🇮🇳 हिचकिचाना

🇩🇪 zögernd

🇮🇩 ragu-ragu

🇺🇦 вагаючись

🇵🇱 wahając się

🇯🇵 ためらう

🇫🇷 hésitant

🇪🇸 vacilando

🇹🇷 tereddüt eden

🇰🇷 주저하는

🇸🇦 متردد

🇨🇿 váhající

🇸🇰 váhajúci

🇨🇳 犹豫

🇸🇮 obotavljiv

🇮🇸 hikandi

🇰🇿 күмәндану

🇬🇪 ეჭვიანი

🇦🇿 tərəddüd edən

🇲🇽 vacilando

Etymology

The word 'hesitate' has its origins in the Latin word 'haesitare', meaning 'to stick fast or cling'. Over time, it evolved into the Middle English 'hesitat', which eventually became 'hesitate' in modern English. The concept of hesitating has been a part of human behavior for centuries, reflecting our innate tendency to pause and deliberate before making decisions.

See also: hesitancy, hesitant, hesitation.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,018, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.