hesitate

Hesitate is a verb meaning to pause or delay before acting or speaking, usually due to uncertainty, doubt, or reluctance. It can also refer to a pause in movement or thought. The related noun is hesitation, and the adjective forms are hesitant or hesitating. Common constructions include “hesitate to” and “without hesitation.” Example: “She hesitated before answering.”

Etymology: Hesitate descends from Old French hesiter, which in turn comes from Latin haesitare, from haesus meaning “sticking, clinging,” related to haerere “to cling.” The word entered English in the 14th century. The noun form hesitancy is also used.

Usage and nuance: Hesitation often conveys caution or moral consideration rather than outright refusal. To hesitate to do something signals a temporary hold rather than a final decision. Hesitation can be intentional (careful deliberation) or involuntary (conflict or doubt). In formal writing, hesitate is typically followed by to plus a verb, e.g., “hesitate to approve.” In informal speech, hesitation may manifest as a brief pause or as a discursive filler.

Related concepts: In psychology and decision science, hesitation is analyzed as a measure of response time or indecision. In linguistics, hesitation markers such as um or uh are used to manage turns in conversation. Synonyms include waver, falter, pause; antonyms include proceed, decide, commit.

See also: Procrastination, indecision, reluctance, ambivalence.