What does "hesitation" mean?

1. (a pause before acting) a short pause before you do something because you are not sure if it is right. 2. (doubt or indecision) the feeling of being unable to make a decision. 3. (speech difficulty) a pause or a struggle while speaking, like a small stutter.

How do you use "hesitation"?

Often used with the preposition 'about' or followed by an infinitive verb. Commonly used in the phrase 'without hesitation' to mean 'immediately and certainly'. Usually uncountable when referring to the general quality of a person's speech.

hesitation

US //ˌhɛzəˈteɪʃən// UK //hˌɛsɪtˈeɪʃən// hes·i·ta·tion

1 a pause before acting (n.)
B1 Intermediate

a short pause before you do something because you are not sure if it is right.

a momentary delay or pause in action, typically reflecting uncertainty or a lack of confidence.

Example

After a moment of hesitation, she decided to tell him the truth.

Example

His slight hesitation before signing the contract suggested that he still harboured significant reservations about the merger terms.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'about' or followed by an infinitive verb.
- certainty
- decisiveness
2 doubt or indecision (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

the feeling of being unable to make a decision.

the state of vacillating between different choices or opinions.

Example

She answered the difficult question without any hesitation.

Example

The board's hesitation to invest in new technology allowed their competitors to gain a significant advantage in the market.

Usage

Commonly used in the phrase 'without hesitation' to mean 'immediately and certainly'.
- indecision
- vacillation
- doubt
- resolution
- conviction

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3 speech difficulty (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

a pause or a struggle while speaking, like a small stutter.

a faltering or involuntary pause in speech, often associated with stammering or searching for words.

Example

The student's speech was full of hesitations because he was so nervous.

Example

The transcript noted several long hesitations where the witness appeared to be carefully weighing the legal implications of his statement.

Usage

Usually uncountable when referring to the general quality of a person's speech.
- faltering
- stuttering
- fluency

Origin

From Latin haesitātiōnem, accusative singular of haesitātiō (“hesitating, stammering”), from haesitō (“hesitate”). Displaced native Old English ġewand.