hesitatingly

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

hes•i•tate /ˈhɛzɪˌteɪt/   v., -tat•ed, -tat•ing. 

1. to wait or pause because of doubt, fear, or indecision;
   vacillate:
   [no object] She hesitated before taking the job.
2. to have doubts about;
   be uncertain about:
   [~ + to + verb] He hesitated to break the law.

hes•i•tat•ing•ly, adv. See -hes-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

hes•i•tate  (hez′i tāt′), v.i., -tat•ed, -tat•ing. 

1. to be reluctant or wait to act because of fear, indecision, or disinclination:
   She hesitated to take the job.
2. to have scruples or doubts;
   be unwilling:
   He hesitated to break the law.
3. to pause:
   I hesitated before reciting the next line.
4. to falter in speech;
   stammer:
   Embarrassment caused the speaker to hesitate.

• Latin haesitātus, past participle of haesitāre. See hesitant, -ate¹
• 1615–25

hes′i•tat′er, hes′i•ta′tor, n. 
hes′i•tat′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. waver, vacillate, falter.
• 3. demur, delay.

Antonyms

• 1. decide.
• 3. hasten.