hesitation
noun
hes·i·ta·tion
ˌhe-zə-ˈtā-shən 
1
: an act or instance of hesitating
2
: a pausing or faltering in speech
Synonyms
Examples of hesitation in a Sentence
one moment's hesitation on my part, and the elusive butterfly was lost to me forever
Recent Examples on the Web
While the women are coming in oozing with persona and charisma, there is still a sense of hesitation in trying to mark their territory.
—
Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
In new partnerships, there’s often a sense of hesitation as both sides gauge each other’s commitment.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Though McCoy is hesitant to speculate on the cause for other news organizations’ hesitation, his team was uniquely positioned to pull the trigger quickly, without the corporate or political pressures that might weigh on legacy networks.
—Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
The foster, a skinny, multi-colored canine, perused the yard with slight hesitation.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hesitation 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
In new partnerships, there’s often a sense of hesitation as both sides gauge each other’s commitment.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Though McCoy is hesitant to speculate on the cause for other news organizations’ hesitation, his team was uniquely positioned to pull the trigger quickly, without the corporate or political pressures that might weigh on legacy networks.
—Josh Rottenberg, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2024
The foster, a skinny, multi-colored canine, perused the yard with slight hesitation.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hesitation
Dictionary Entries Near hesitation
Cite this Entry
“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hesitation. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share