hesitate
From Latin 'haesitare', meaning 'to stick', or 'to be indecisive'.
VERB
(1)
[/ˈhɛz.ɪ.teɪt/en-US]
To pause or show reluctance before acting due to uncertainty, doubt, or indecision.
| past | present | present_participle |
|---|---|---|
| hesitated | hesitates | hesitating |
- She didn't hesitate for a moment before saying yes to the proposal. — She immediately agreed to the offer without any delay.
- If you're unsure about the instructions, please don't hesitate to ask questions. — Feel free to ask if you have doubts or concerns.
- He hesitated at the edge of the high diving board, unsure if he should jump. — He paused and showed reluctance before deciding whether to jump from the board.
NOUN
(1)
[/ˌhɛz.ɪˈteɪ.ʃən/en-US]
ためらい
literal
/
迷い
neutral
/
ためらうこと
untranslatable
(There is no direct single-word equivalent. This phrase captures the concept but is not a single word.)
Antonyms
certainty
The act or an instance of pausing or showing reluctance due to uncertainty or indecision. This is the common noun form, more frequently used as 'hesitation'.
standard plural form
| plural |
|---|
| hesitations |
- There was a slight hesitation in his voice before he answered the difficult question. — He paused briefly and showed uncertainty before speaking.
- After some hesitation, she finally decided to accept the job offer. — Following a period of indecision, she ultimately took the employment opportunity.
- His momentary hesitation cost him the opportunity to speak before the boss left. — His brief delay or indecision caused him to miss the chance to talk to his superior.