Word
hesitate
Phoneticshes·i·tate, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhɛzəˌteɪt/
UK/hˈɛsɪtˌeɪt/
Definitions
01to pause before acting
B1 · Intermediate
v. to pause for a short time before you do something because you are not sure if it is right.
v. to pause or hold back in uncertainty or indecision before performing an action.
日本語:躊躇する※
“She hesitated for a moment before opening the letter from the university.”
“The investor hesitated to commit more capital to the project until the market showed clearer signs of recovery.”
Usage
Often followed by the infinitive 'to' or the preposition 'about'.
Pitfall
I hesitated for asking him for help.
I hesitated to ask him for help.
The verb hesitate is followed by an infinitive (to + verb), not 'for' + gerund.
02to pause while speaking
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to pause while you are talking because you are nervous or having trouble finding the right words.
v. to falter or pause during speech, often due to nervousness or a search for appropriate phrasing.
日本語:よどむ※
“He hesitated during his speech when he forgot the name of the guest.”
“The witness hesitated before answering the prosecutor's question, carefully weighing the implications of her testimony.”
Usage
Intransitive; describes the manner of speaking rather than the content.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “hesitate” in context.
Verb
01. hesitate about the decision
“Investors began to hesitate about the decision as the market became unstable.”
verb + prep + noun
02. hesitate to ask
“Please do not hesitate to ask if you require any further assistance.”
verb + infinitive
03. hesitate to call
“You shouldn't hesitate to call the doctor if your symptoms get worse.”
verb + infinitive
Adverb
04. hardly hesitate
“He hardly hesitated when they offered him the job of his dreams.”
adv + verb
05. hesitate briefly
“She hesitated briefly before answering the interviewer's difficult question.”
verb + adv
06. hesitate momentarily
“The speaker hesitated momentarily to check his notes before continuing.”
verb + adv
Real-World Examples
“If a child repeatedly struggles in a particular setting, parents should not hesitate to consider another center that may provide a better fit.” “If a computer’s price in 2026 seems too good to be true, it probably is—Chuwi’s Unibook is interesting, but I’d hesitate to recommend it as a primary laptop to pretty much anybody.” Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/hesitate
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0