hesitation
noun
hes·i·ta·tion
ˌhe-zə-ˈtā-shən 
1
: an act or instance of hesitating
A moment's hesitation could have meant disaster.
I would do it again without hesitation.
2
: a pausing or faltering in speech
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
Schomburger’s announcement was met with hesitation from investors, when the company’s share price dropped by 6% to $62 per share on the day of the announcement.
—
Dylan Sherman, Arkansas Online, 8 June 2026
Without hesitation, Towns drove past the 7-4 unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, and slammed home a finish.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 6 June 2026
His party was in denial, and the hesitation cost them the general election.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
Aside from his hesitations over the SNL cue cards, Holland has not shied away from live performance itself.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026
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.
Dylan Sherman, Arkansas Online, 8 June 2026
Without hesitation, Towns drove past the 7-4 unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, and slammed home a finish.
—Fiifi Frimpong, New York Daily News, 6 June 2026
His party was in denial, and the hesitation cost them the general election.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 3 June 2026
Aside from his hesitations over the SNL cue cards, Holland has not shied away from live performance itself.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Cite this Entry
“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hesitation. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
