HESITATE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does hesitate mean? 

• HESITATE (verb)
  The verb HESITATE has 2 senses:

1. pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

2. interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

  Familiarity information: HESITATE used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HESITATE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they hesitate    ... he / she / it hesitates   
Past simple: hesitated   
Past participle: hesitated   
-ing form: hesitating   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

hesitate; waffle; waver

Context example:

Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures

"Hesitate" entails doing...:

doubt (lack confidence in or have doubts about)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "hesitate"):

dwell on; linger over (delay)

boggle (hesitate when confronted with a problem, or when in doubt or fear)

hover; linger (move to and fro)

hover; oscillate; vacillate; vibrate (be undecided about something; waver between conflicting positions or courses of action)

falter; waver (be unsure or weak)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE
Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE

Derivation:

hesitancy (a certain degree of unwillingness)

hesitant (lacking decisiveness of character; unable to act or decide quickly or firmly)

hesitater (one who hesitates (usually out of fear))

hesitation (a certain degree of unwillingness)

hesitation (indecision in speech or action)

hesitator (one who hesitates (usually out of fear))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

hesitate; pause

Context example:

The speaker paused

Hypernyms (to "hesitate" is one way to...):

delay (act later than planned, scheduled, or required)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "hesitate"):

hem and haw (utter 'hems' and 'haws'; indicated hesitation)

scruple (hesitate on moral grounds)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE

Sentence example:

They hesitate a long time

Derivation:

hesitater (one who hesitates (usually out of fear))

hesitation (the act of pausing uncertainly)

 Context examples 

They may hesitate as to an acceptable wedding present.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

When I found so astonishing a power placed within my hands, I hesitated a long time concerning the manner in which I should employ it.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Laurie saw and understood the affectionate anxiety which she hesitated to express, and looking straight into her eyes, said, just as he used to say it to her mother, "It's all right, ma'am."

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

If your child has diarrhea, do not hesitate to call the doctor for advice.

(Diarrhea, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

Mr. Dick considered, hesitated, brightened, and rejoined, “Have him measured for a suit of clothes directly.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

He did not hesitate a moment.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

I hesitated, the desire to race back and up the steps to the deck almost overpowering me.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He started to hand it to her, then hesitated.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Mrs Smith hesitated a little here.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Indisposed to hesitate, and full of impatient impulses—soul and senses quivering with keen throes—I put it back and looked in.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)