Vocafy, efficient language learning Vocafy, efficient language learning
Loading
0 English - Monolingual Dictionary

Hesitate

ˈhɛzəˌteɪt
Very common
~ 1500
~ 1500, Very common
The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000. This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
to pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness, to delay or be slow in acting or deciding, to stammer or pause in speech

Hesitate - Meanings

to pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

Example: She hesitated before answering the question.
Usage: formalContext: academic or professional discussions
Note: Often used in formal settings to indicate a moment of uncertainty or indecision.

to delay or be slow in acting or deciding

Example: Don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.
Usage: formal/informalContext: business emails, everyday conversations
Note: Can be used in both formal and informal contexts to encourage prompt action or decision-making.

to stammer or pause in speech

Example: He hesitated as he tried to remember the correct word.
Usage: formal/informalContext: presentations, storytelling, everyday conversations
Note: This usage refers to a moment of speech hesitation or difficulty in finding the right words.

Hesitate's synonyms

pause

To temporarily stop before continuing with an action or speech.
Example: She paused before answering the question.
Note: Similar to hesitate, but pause often implies a deliberate or intentional break.

dither

To be indecisive or uncertain about a course of action.
Example: He dithered for a moment before making a decision.
Note: Dither conveys a sense of being unable to make a decision due to confusion or lack of confidence.

waver

To be undecided or fluctuate between choices.
Example: She wavered between accepting the job offer and staying at her current job.
Note: Waver suggests a back-and-forth movement between options or opinions, indicating uncertainty.

vacillate

To waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.
Example: The committee vacillated on whether to approve the budget proposal.
Note: Vacillate implies a repeated change of mind or fluctuation in decision-making.

Hesitate expressions, common phrases

Think twice

This phrase means to consider something carefully before acting or deciding.
Example: Before making a decision, it's wise to think twice to avoid any regrets later on.
Note: It emphasizes the importance of thoughtful consideration before acting, similar to hesitating but implying a more deliberate approach.

Pause for thought

To pause for thought means to briefly stop and think about something before continuing.
Example: She paused for thought before responding to the difficult question.
Note: It suggests taking a moment to reflect before proceeding, which aligns with the concept of hesitation but with a focus on reflection.

Have second thoughts

Having second thoughts means to reconsider or doubt a decision previously made.
Example: After accepting the job offer, she started having second thoughts about relocating.
Note: It implies a change in opinion or uncertainty after initially being certain, similar to hesitation but with a stronger sense of doubt or reconsideration.

Dilly-dally

To dilly-dally means to waste time or be indecisive.
Example: Stop dilly-dallying and make a decision already!
Note: While hesitation involves a pause in decision-making, dilly-dallying suggests wasting time or being overly hesitant without making progress.

Hem and haw

To hem and haw means to hesitate in speech, often due to uncertainty or indecision.
Example: Instead of giving a direct answer, he just hemmed and hawed for minutes.
Note: This phrase specifically refers to hesitating in speech or communication, reflecting a form of hesitation that manifests verbally.

Drag one's feet

To drag one's feet means to delay or be slow in taking action.
Example: He's been dragging his feet on making a decision about the project timeline.
Note: It implies a reluctance or procrastination in moving forward, similar to hesitation but with a connotation of deliberate delay.

Beat around the bush

To beat around the bush means to avoid talking about something directly or to speak evasively.
Example: Instead of directly addressing the issue, he kept beating around the bush.
Note: While hesitation involves a delay in action or decision-making, beating around the bush refers to avoiding the main point or being indirect in communication.

Hesitate everyday (slang) expressions

Waffle

To hesitate or equivocate in speech; to be undecided or evasive.
Example: Quit waffling and tell me what you really think.
Note: In this context, 'waffle' implies talking without making a clear or firm decision.

Chop logic

To engage in overly subtle or hairsplitting reasoning; to hesitate in an annoyingly pedantic way.
Example: Don't chop logic, just give me a yes or no answer.
Note: This term suggests someone is being overly analytical or pedantic when hesitating.

Stall

To delay or hesitate in order to gain time or avoid making a decision.
Example: Stop stalling and make up your mind already.
Note: While 'hesitate' refers to a general delay, 'stall' implies a deliberate delay tactic.

Monkey around

To waste time; to be indecisive or avoid making a decision.
Example: Quit monkeying around and just choose already.
Note: This slang term implies wasting time or behaving foolishly instead of making a decision.

Peekaboo

To play a game of peekaboo implies momentarily hiding or being hesitant in revealing something.
Example: Enough with the peekaboo, just say what you're thinking.
Note: While the original game involves momentarily hiding, the slang term implies being timid or hesitant in speech or action.

Skirt around

To avoid addressing a topic directly; to hesitate in discussing something openly.
Example: Stop skirting around the issue and speak up.
Note: 'Skirt around' implies avoiding direct confrontation or discussion, unlike a straightforward hesitation.

Hesitate - Examples

I hesitate to ask for help.
Don't hesitate to call me if you need anything.
She hesitated before making a decision.

Hesitate grammar

Hesitate - Verb (Verb) / Verb, base form (Verb, base form)
Lemma: hesitate
Conjugations
Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): hesitated
Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): hesitating
Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): hesitates
Verb, base form (Verb, base form): hesitate
Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): hesitate
Syllabification and Stress
hesitate Contains 3 syllables: hes • i • tate
Phonetic transcription: ˈhe-zə-ˌtāt
hes i tate , ˈhe zə ˌtāt (The red syllable is stressed)

Hesitate - Importance and usage frequency

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.
hesitate: ~ 1500 (Very common).
This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.
Back