1. pause before saying or doing something, especially through uncertainty: "she hesitated, unsure of what to say"Similarpausedelayhang backwaitshilly-shallyditherstalltemporizebe in two mindsbe in a quandarybe in a dilemmabe on the horns of a dilemmabe uncertainbe hesitantbe unsurebe doubtfulbe indecisiveequivocatevacillateoscillatewaverhave second thoughtshaverhum and hawswitherinformal:dilly-dallyblow hot and coldOppositebe resolutebe certain
▪ be reluctant to do something:"he hesitated to spoil the mood by being inquisitive"Similarbe reluctantbe unwillingbe disinclinedscruplehave misgivings abouthave qualms aboutbe ambivalent aboutfeel uneasy aboutshrink fromdemur fromhang back fromthink twice aboutbe diffident aboutbalk atboggle atOppositebe willing
Word Originearly 17th century: from Latin haesitat- ‘stuck fast, left undecided’, from the verb haesitare, from haerere ‘stick, stay’.
