Word Explorer
Children's Dictionary
Help
Help
Help
 
   
Lookup History
hesitate

hes·i·tate

hesitate

 
 
pronunciation:
he zih teIt
features:
Word History
part of speech: verb
inflections: hesitates, hesitating, hesitated
definition 1: to stop or pause because of not feeling sure.
My dog hesitated when I gave him a command he did not know.
synonyms:
falter
similar words:
balk, halt, pause, stall
definition 2: to be slow to act because of not feeling very sure or willing.
He hesitated to try out for the football team because he had heard how much they practice.
similar words:
balk, delay, falter, procrastinate, stall
derivation: hesitatingly (adv.)
Word History
Hesitate is from a Latin word that means "to stick, cling, or hold back."