hesitation — The act of pausing or being uncertain before making a decision or taking action. A moment of doubt or indecision.
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: The act of pausing or being uncertain before making a decision or taking action. A moment of doubt or indecision.
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˌhɛzɪˈteɪʃən/
Example Sentences
- There was a brief hesitation before he pressed the 'delete all photos' button.
- Her hesitation to answer the phone late at night was understandable.
- The student's hesitation during the oral exam was obvious to everyone in the room.
hesitation
NOUN[/ˌhɛzɪˈteɪʃən/]
The act of pausing or being uncertain before making a decision or taking action. A moment of doubt or indecision.
She reaches for it — then pulls back. Hesitation wins again.
Her hesitation fades as determination leads to her destination!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin 'haesitare' meaning 'to hesitate or stick fast,' which comes from 'haerere' meaning 'to stick or cling.' The imagery is of being stuck in place, unable to move forward due to uncertainty.
Breakdown
haesit- (to stick, be stuck) + -ation (noun suffix indicating action or state)
🎵Rhyme
📝Examples
“There was a brief hesitation before he pressed the 'delete all photos' button.”
“Her hesitation to answer the phone late at night was understandable.”
“The student's hesitation during the oral exam was obvious to everyone in the room.”
“Without any hesitation, the dog jumped on the expensive white sofa with muddy paws.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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