Hesitate
['hezɪteɪt] or ['hɛzɪtet]
Definition
(verb.) pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness; 'Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures'.
(verb.) interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing; 'The speaker paused'.
Editor: Will--From WordNet
Definition
(v. i.) To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination; as, he hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often hesitate in forming a judgment.
(v. i.) To stammer; to falter in speaking.
(v. t.) To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner.
Inputed by Leslie
Synonyms and Synonymous
v. n. [1]. Pause, delay, demur, doubt, waver, vacillate, be undetermined, stop to consider, be in doubt, be in suspense, be doubtful.[2]. Falter, stammer, have an impediment in speech.
Checker: Rowena
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Dubitate, waver, demur, scruple, falter, stammer, pause, doubt
ANT:Decide, determine, run, flow, career
Edited by Abraham
Definition
v.i. to stop in making a decision: to be in doubt: to stammer.—v.t. (rare) to express with hesitation.—ns. Hes′itancy Hesitā′tion wavering: doubt: stammering.—adj. Hes′itan't hesitating.—adv. Hes′itātingly.—adj. Hes′itātive showing hesitation.—n. Hes′itātor one who hesitates.—adj. Hes′itātory hesitating.
Editor: Sonya
Examples
- Still, a person may hesitate about the probability of the son of a king being a philosopher. Plato. The Republic.
- She would hesitate, she would tease, she would condition, she would require a great deal, but she would finally accept. Jane Austen. Mansfield Park.
- And yet, I hesitate. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- In the other case they will be very much surprised, and they will hesitate. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- If you insist upon being determined by conditions you do hesitate about saying I shall. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- I can understand that you may hesitate to analyse it from a purely impartial point of view. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- In the height of the season, Legree did not hesitate to press all his hands through, Sundays and week-days alike. Harriet Beecher Stowe. Uncle Tom's Cabin.
- For ten days after this repulse the Duke of Brunswick hesitated, and then he began to fall back towards the Rhine. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Sir Percival hesitated and looked at his watch. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- The girl hesitated. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- She hesitated for a moment, holding the little volume fondly in her hands--then lifted it to her lips and kissed it. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- The Jew still hesitated. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- Lily hesitated a moment. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- Somewhat daunted by this reception, Jo hesitated on the threshold, murmuring in much embarrassment. Louisa May Alcott. Little Women.
- And all the while they two were hovering, hesitating round the flame of some invisible declaration. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Cause--' said Sam, hesitating. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- If I knew him a little better, thought I, hesitating, as I saw him stop to speak to his groom. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- I don't know if he wants it all,' he continued in a hesitating manner. Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell. North and South.
- I think she might have been mistrustful, mum,' answered Sloppy, hesitating. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- It is so difficult to fix a sum, said I, hesitating. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- Without hesitating longer, I hurried from the chamber in the direction of the greatest tumult. Edgar Rice Burroughs. The Gods of Mars.
- The trooper flushes angrily and hesitates a moment, but holds out his two hands, clasped together, and says, There! Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- In common conversation he seems to have no choice of words; he hesitates and blunders; and yet, good God, how he writes! Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- She hesitates, I am sure. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- If he hesitates or moves a finger but as you bid him, drag him into the street, call for the aid of the police, and impeach him as a felon in my name. Charles Dickens. Oliver Twist.
- But if he considers, he is in doubt; he hesitates. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- The Christian Hero never hesitates where good is to be done. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- She hesitates, but he motions again, and she sits down. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
Checked by Casey