ZebraWords.com - The Definition of 'Hesitate', Synonyms of 'Hesitate' & More on 'Hesitate'

1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)

hesitate
    v 1: pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness;
         "Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures" [syn:
         hesitate, waver, waffle]
    2: interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing; "The
       speaker paused" [syn: hesitate, pause]

2. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Hesitate \Hes"i*tate\, v. t.
   To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant
   manner. [Poetic & R.]
   [1913 Webster]

         Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike. --Pope.
   [1913 Webster]

3. The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Hesitate \Hes"i*tate\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hesitated; p. pr. &
   vb. n. Hesitating.] [L. haesitatus, p. p. of haesitare,
   intens. fr. haerere to hesitate, stick fast; to hang or hold
   fast. Cf. Aghast, Gaze, Adhere.]
   [1913 Webster]
   1. To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in
      suspense or uncertainty as to a determination; as, he
      hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often
      hesitate in forming a judgment. --Pope.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To stammer; to falter in speaking.

   Syn: To doubt; waver; scruple; deliberate; demur; falter;
        stammer.
        [1913 Webster]

Thesaurus Results for Hesitate:

1. Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

alternate, back down, balance, balk, be dilatory, blench, boggle, call a recess, debate, delay, deliberate, demur, dither, equivocate, falter, fear, fight shy of, filibuster, flinch, fluctuate, fumble, gain time, halt, hang, hang back, hang fire, hang in doubt, hang off, have qualms, haver, haw, hem, hem and haw, hold back, hold off, hover, hum, hum and haw, jib, let up, make bones about, make time, mammer, pause, play for time, ponder, procrastinate, pull back, quail, recess, recoil, rest, retreat, scruple, shilly-shally, shrink, shrink from, shy, shy at, splutter, sputter, stall, stall for time, stall off, stammer, stick at, stickle, stooge around, stop to consider, straddle the fence, strain, strain at, stumble, stutter, take a recess, talk against time, temporize, tergiversate, think twice, think twice about, vacillate, wait, waver, wince, withdraw, yield

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