WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
hes•i•ta•tion /ˌhɛzɪˈteɪʃən/USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- an act of hesitating: [uncountable]a moment of hesitation.[countable]After a momentary hesitation, the general gave the command.
hes•i•ta•tion
(hez′i tā′shən),USA pronunciation n.
- the act of hesitating;
a delay due to uncertainty of mind or fear:His hesitation cost him the championship. - a state of doubt or uncertainty.
- a halting or faltering in speech.
- Latin haesitātiōn- (stem of haesitātiō). See hesitate, -ion
- 1615–25
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged hesitancy, indecision, irresolution, vacillation.
- 3.See corresponding entry in Unabridged stammer.
'hesitation' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
away
- boggle
- compunction
- dash
- decided
- decisive
- demur
- drop
- er
- flat
- go
- h'm
- hack
- haw
- hem
- hesitancy
- hesitation waltz
- hesitative
- hum
- indicate
- jump
- means
- misgiving
- nothing
- now
- pause
- plunge
- reel
- right
- scruple
- shilly-shally
- shillyshally
- stool
- swither
- talk
- uh
- um
- uncertainty
- unhesitating
- waver
- why
- yes