hesitation

CEFRC1

/ˌhɛzɪˈteɪʃən/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A pause caused by uncertainty or doubt.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A faltering in speech; stammering.

Examples

  • A moment's hesitation may cost a pilot his life.

  • You should make sure of the fact without hesitation.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • /ˌhezɪˈtæɪʃən/

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. Doubt; vacillation.

  2. An act of hesitating

More examples

In context

  • She carried out the order without hesitation.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

His blank in answering the question made the interviewer doubt his knowledge.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Latin haesitātiōnem, accusative singular of haesitātiō (“hesitating, stammering”), from haesitō (“hesitate”). Displaced native Old English ġewand.