English Explanatory Dictionary

hesitate

English dictionary entry

Meanings

verb
  1. To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.
  2. To stammer; to falter in speaking.
  3. To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner.

Pronunciation

/ˈhɛz.ɪ.teɪt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-hesitate.wav /ˈhɛz.ə.teɪt/ /ˈhez.ə.tæɪt/

Word forms

hesitate hesitates hesitating hesitated hæsitate

Etymology

Etymology tree Latin haereō Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -tō ▲ Latin -tō Latin -itō Latin -titō Latin haesitō Latin haesitātusbor. English hesitate Borrowed from Latin haesitātus, perfect passive participle of haesitō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), intensive of haereō (“to hesitate, stick fast; to hang or hold fast”). Displaced native Old English wandian. Compare French hésiter.

Synonyms

falter mammer scruple waver boggle wobble deliberate halt waffle dither hesitate hover stand shilly-shally stick swither demur balbucinate balbutiate hem haw stammer stutter stumble

Antonyms

damn the torpedoes decide brazen grasp the nettle go big or go home resolve shoot first and ask questions later shoot from the hip shoot from the lip shoot one's mouth off

Related words

think twice vacillate

Derived words

hesitant hesitater hesitating hesitation hesitative hesitatory
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