hesitation
Hesitation (noun) 1. A pause or delay due to uncertainty or indecision: The act of stopping briefly or waiting before doing or saying something because you are unsure or nervous. 2. Reluctance or unwillingness: A feeling of not being sure or not wanting to do something. 3. Indecision in speech or action: A state of being unable to make a quick or clear choice, often resulting in faltering speech or delayed action.
As a pause due to uncertainty:
- There was a brief hesitation in his speech before he answered the difficult question.
- She accepted the offer without hesitation. (This common phrase means she accepted immediately, without any pause of doubt.)
As reluctance or unwillingness:
- His hesitation to invest showed his cautious nature.
- I sensed some hesitation in her voice when she agreed to help.
As general indecision:
- After a moment of hesitation, he chose the blue shirt.
- The team's hesitation cost them a scoring opportunity.
"Without hesitation": This is a very common phrase used to emphasize immediate and decisive action. It means doing something instantly, with no doubt or delay.
- He jumped into the water to save the child without hesitation.
"A moment's hesitation": Refers to a very short pause filled with doubt.
- A moment's hesitation was all it took for the chance to slip away.
Hesitation as a psychological state: The word can describe an internal feeling of doubt that may not be visibly apparent in action.
- Despite her inner hesitation, she presented a confident front.
- Hesitate (verb): To pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness.
- Don't hesitate to ask if you need help.
- Hesitant (adjective): Tending to hesitate; showing or feeling indecision.
- She was hesitant about accepting the new job.
- Hesitancy (noun): The quality or state of being hesitant. This is a close synonym, often used interchangeably with "hesitation," though it can sometimes refer more to the of doubt itself.
- There was a noticeable hesitancy in his approach.
- Pause: A temporary stop in action or speech.
- Reluctance: Unwillingness or disinclination to do something.
- Indecision: The inability to make a decision quickly.
- Vacillation: Fluctuation between different opinions or actions; wavering.
- Faltering: Moving or speaking in an unsteady way due to weakness or uncertainty.
- Decisiveness: The ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.
- Certainty: Firm conviction that something is the case.
- Readiness: The state of being fully prepared or willing to do something.
- "Give (someone) no hesitation": To not cause someone to doubt or pause. (Often used in the negative: "It gives me no hesitation to recommend her.")
- "Hesitation marks": A specific term, often in forensic contexts, referring to preliminary, shallow cuts made before a deeper, decisive wound, indicating uncertainty.
- the act of pausing uncertainly
- there was a hesitation in his speech
- a certain degree of unwillingness
- a reluctance to commit himself
- his hesitancy revealed his basic indisposition
- after some hesitation he agreed
- indecision in speech or action