noun
hesitation
hez-ih-TAY-shuhn/ˌhezɪˈteɪʃn/
A pause or reluctance to act because of uncertainty.
His hand hovers over the chessboard in hesitation.
Etymology
The verb behind this noun meant both sticking fast and stammering. Its action noun extended that idea of being stuck to indecision, giving hesitation its sense of a pause caused by uncertainty.
In context
The thing you've been asking for is finally within reach. But instead of excitement, you feel hesitation. You slow down. You second guess it. You start pulling back.
More examples
- She answered without hesitation.
- Several hesitations interrupted the speech.
- A moment of hesitation changed the result.
Forms
hesitation · hesitations
hesitate verb — pause because of uncertainty
Similar words
- pause
- Any brief stop, not necessarily caused by doubt.
- reluctance
- Unwillingness rather than the pause itself.