hesitate
pronunciation
How to pronounce hesitate in British English:
UK [ˈhezɪteɪt]
How to pronounce hesitate in American English:
US [ˈhezɪteɪt]
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- Verb:
- pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
- interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
Word Origin
- hesitate
- hesitate: [17] Etymologically, to hesitate is to become ‘stuck’. The word comes from Latin haesitāre, a derivative of haerēre ‘hold fast, stick’ (which gave English adhere). The underlying idea is of being ‘held back’, or in speech of ‘stammering’, and hence of being unable to act or speak promptly or decisively.=> adhere
- hesitate (v.)
- 1620s, from Latin haesitatum, past participle of haesitare (see hesitation). Related: Hesitated; hesitating.
Example
- 1. This is no time to hesitate over choosing sides .
- 2. All this may make consumers hesitate before they buy .
- 3. Wisely , the authors hesitate to draw facile conclusions and admit nothing is proved .
- 4. Across mexico , local businessmen worry about extortion and kidnapping while foreign investors hesitate .
- 5. Mr sarkozy did not hesitate to upbraid his greek and italian colleagues .