Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

hesitate

/ˈhɛz.ə.teɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.79 in modern English

Syllables: hes-i-tate
IPA: /ˈhɛz.ə.teɪt/

11

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.

Intransitive verb

verb

To stammer; to falter in speaking.

Intransitive verb

verb

To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"He hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often hesitate in forming a judgment."
"September 1, 1742, Alexander Pope, letter to Racine I shall not hesitate to declare myself very cordially, in regard to some particulars about which you have desired an answer."
"Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike."

Etymology

Etymology tree Latin haereō Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Italic *-tos Latin -tus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -tō ▲ Latin -tō Latin -itō Latin -titō Latin haesitō Latin haesitātusbor. English hesitate Borrowed from Latin haesitātus, perfect passive participle of haesitō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), intensive of haereō (“to hesitate, stick fast; to hang or hold fast”). Displaced native Old English wandian. Compare French hésiter.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈhɛz.ə.teɪt/
British English: /ˈhɛz.ɪ.teɪt/

Usage

Inflected Forms

hesitates (present, singular) hesitating (participle, present) hesitated (participle, past) hesitated (past) hæsitate (alternative, archaic)

Derived Forms

hesitant hesitater hesitating hesitation hesitative hesitatory

Phrases

think twice

Frequently Paired Words

think twice vacillate

Synonyms

demur falter mammer scruple waver balbucinate balbutiate hem haw stammer stutter stumble

Antonyms

damn the torpedoes decide brazen grasp the nettle go big or go home resolve shoot first and ask questions later shoot from the hip shoot from the lip shoot one's mouth off

Questions

How do you pronounce hesitate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈhɛz.ə.teɪt/.
What does hesitate mean?: To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.
Where does hesitate come from?: Etymology tree Latin haereō Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Italic *-tos Latin -tus Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂yéti Proto-Indo-European *-h₂tiinflu. Proto-Italic *-ājō Proto-Italic *-āō Latin -ō Latin -tō ▲ Latin -tō Latin -itō Latin -titō Latin haesitō Latin haesitātusbor. English hesitate Borrowed from Latin haesitātus, perfect passive participle of haesitō (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), intensive of haereō (“to hesitate, stick fast; to hang or hold fast”). Displaced native Old English wandian. Compare French hésiter.

How to pronounce hesitate

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “hesitate”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈhɛz.ə.teɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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