Definitions for hesitate
ˈhɛz ɪˌteɪthes·i·tate

Princeton's WordNet(4.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. hesitate, waver, waffle(verb)

   pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

   "Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures"

2. hesitate, pause(verb)

   interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

   "The speaker paused"

Wiktionary(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. hesitate(Verb)

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

2. hesitate(Verb)

   To stammer; to falter in speaking.

3. hesitate(Verb)

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

Webster Dictionary(2.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Hesitate(verb)

   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. Hesitate(verb)

   to stammer; to falter in speaking

3. Hesitate(verb)

   to utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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.]

British National Corpus

1. Verbs Frequency

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

How to pronounce hesitate?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

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. Bennie Thompson:

   There's a willingness to work with her on our part, but we won't hesitate if she chooses not to come to issue a subpoena.

2. Mehmet Murat ildan:

   Inconsistency is a great door for the change and for the progression! Never hesitate to be inconsistent!

3. Japan Governor Haruhiko Kuroda:

   Japan's underlying price trend isn't deteriorating. But some indicators on inflation expectations have been somewhat weak, we won't hesitate adjusting policy, including easing policy, if necessary to achieve our 2 percent price target.

4. Mustafa Alani:

   I think we're going to see a more confrontational policy, faster decision-making and more long-term thinking. A leadership that won't hesitate from any confrontation.

5. Rooney Mara:

   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.

Images & Illustrations of hesitate

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