hesitation

noun

hes·​i·​ta·​tion ˌhe-zə-ˈtā-shən How to pronounce hesitation (audio)
1
: an act or instance of hesitating
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
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.
But with the integration of AI comes hesitation and fears of job loss, privacy breaches and misinformation. Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Aug. 2025 This cycle converts hesitation into purchase and builds loyalty, all without human intervention. Charisma Glassman, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025 Putin, Kuleba said, only needs one day of hesitation at NATO and European Union headquarters in Brussels to press an attack. David Brennan, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2025 There's a lot of hesitation to get back into the stock right now. Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 8 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hesitation

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hesitation was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hesitation. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.

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