hesitation

hesitation — noun

1. a short pause or delay caused by not being sure what to do or say, often because

1.nounB2
Definition

a short pause or delay caused by not being sure what to do or say, often because you feel nervous or have doubts about something

Example

Without a moment's hesitation, Asher jumped into the river to save the struggling child.

collocation: without a moment's hesitation

Isabela paused with a slight hesitation before sharing her honest opinion with the team.

Common collocations
  • without hesitation
  • after some / a moment's hesitation
  • have no / little hesitation in + -ing
  • a slight / brief / momentary hesitation
  • a noticeable hesitation
  • show / express hesitation
Synonyms
  • pause

    Focuses on the break itself rather than the uncertainty causing it; can be neutral ('a pause in the conversation')

  • indecision

    Stronger — refers to an inability to choose rather than a brief delay; implies a longer period of uncertainty

  • reluctance

    Emphasises unwillingness or resistance rather than uncertainty or doubt

  • uncertainty

    Broader — describes a general state of doubt rather than a specific moment of delay

Antonyms
  • certainty

    The opposite mental state — being sure rather than doubtful

  • confidence

    The feeling that allows someone to act without pausing

Grammar Patterns

without hesitation

have no hesitation in + -ing

a + adjective + hesitation

Usage Note

Often used in the uncountable fixed expression 'without hesitation', meaning immediately and willingly. It can also be countable when referring to a single instance: 'a slight hesitation' or 'a moment's hesitation'. The pattern 'have no/little hesitation in + -ing' is common in formal or professional recommendations.

Common Mistakes

I have no hesitation to recommend her.
I have no hesitation in recommending her.
After 'hesitation', use 'in + -ing', not 'to + infinitive'.
She accepted the job despite her hesitant.
She accepted the job despite her hesitation.
'Hesitant' is an adjective; the noun form 'hesitation' is needed here.

Word family

  • hesitate
    verbB2
  • hesitant
    adjectiveB2
  • hesitancy
    nounC1
  • hesitatingly
    adverbC1
  • unhesitating
    adjectiveC1
  • unhesitatingly
    adverbC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

While all four words describe a break in action or speech, they differ in cause and duration. Hesitation is a brief delay driven by uncertainty or nervousness — the speaker or actor is not yet fully sure. Pause is neutral and can be intentional (a pause for effect) or mechanical (a pause to breathe), without any implication of doubt. Indecision suggests a longer, more frustrating state where someone cannot settle on a choice at all. Reluctance points to emotional resistance or unwillingness rather than mental uncertainty. For example: 'After a brief hesitation, she said yes' (unsure → decides); 'After a long indecision, she still had no answer' (stuck); 'Her reluctance to join was obvious' (didn't want to).

hesitation ↗pause ↗indecision ↗reluctance ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • moment of hesitation
  • sign of hesitation
  • trace of hesitation

Adverbs

  • without (any) hesitation
  • immediately without hesitation

Phrases

  • without a moment's hesitation
  • have no hesitation in
  • after some hesitation
  • a slight hesitation

Prepositions

  • hesitation in + -ing
  • hesitation about + noun/ -ing
  • hesitation over + noun/ -ing

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Hesitation comes from Latin 'haesitatio' (stammering, uncertainty), from the verb 'haesitare' meaning 'to stick fast' or 'to be uncertain'. The sense shifted from physically getting stuck to mentally pausing in doubt. It entered English in the early 1600s.