hesitation
noun
hes·i·ta·tion
ˌhe-zə-ˈtā-shən 
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
The same hesitation existed with computers, the internet, and smartphones.
—
Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
TikTok Reacts Jensen's transformation sparked a wave of reactions in the comments section, with viewers split between admiration and hesitation.
—Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Two years later, visits by international squads became more regular, but there was still some hesitation.
—Betsy Joles, NPR, 2 Mar. 2025
There are some valid reasons why people have hesitations about the technology, according to Dustin Mulvaney, an environmental studies professor at San Jose State University who researches conflicts over solar developments.
—Kate Yoder, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
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.
Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
TikTok Reacts Jensen's transformation sparked a wave of reactions in the comments section, with viewers split between admiration and hesitation.
—Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025
Two years later, visits by international squads became more regular, but there was still some hesitation.
—Betsy Joles, NPR, 2 Mar. 2025
There are some valid reasons why people have hesitations about the technology, according to Dustin Mulvaney, an environmental studies professor at San Jose State University who researches conflicts over solar developments.
—Kate Yoder, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitation
Cite this Entry
“Hesitation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hesitation. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share