hesitate

A person who hesitates takes extra time before making a decision or taking an action.

• Harpeet never hesitates when someone offers her chocolate.
• Oscar hesitated before entering the office because it looked like the wrong room.
• At a stop light, Amy hesitated when the light turned green and saved herself from getting into an accident.
• I think you’re hesitating.
• Why are you hesitating?
• You shouldn’t hesitate in accepting a job offer if you really want it.
• If you want to get that new computer on sale, don’t hesitate. The sale won’t last long.

The words "hesitation" and "hesitancy" are nouns:

• Tom showed no hesitation when it came to accepting the offer of a job.
• I sense a little hesitancy. Are you sure you want to do this?
• There was a note of hesitancy in the young man’s voice when he said he wanted to marry his girlfriend.
• After approval from the city, construction of the building was begun without hesitation.

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Date of publication: November 10, 2016