WordValehesitate
to pause before acting
In more detail
1. (verb) to pause or delay before doing something because you are unsure or uncertain
2. (verb) to be slow or reluctant to do something
Examples
- 1. She hesitated before answering the difficult question.
- 2. Don't hesitate to call me if you need help.
How to use hesitate
Hesitate describes a momentary pause or reluctance due to doubt, uncertainty, or reluctance rather than outright refusal. It often suggests the person will eventually act, just not immediately. In formal requests or invitations, 'don't hesitate to' is a polite idiom encouraging someone to act freely without worry.
Common phrases
- hesitate to say
- hesitate for a moment
- don't hesitate to ask
- without hesitation
- slight hesitation
Synonyms
pause · waver · falter · dither · be reluctant
Opposites
commit · decide · proceed
Word family
hesitation (noun) · hesitant (adjective) · hesitantly (adverb) · unhesitatingly (adverb)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes use hesitate with an infinitive without 'to' (e.g., 'hesitate do it' instead of 'hesitate to do it'), or confuse it with simply being slow or delayed for practical reasons rather than psychological uncertainty.
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