hesitate

verb

SayHEZ-uh-taytUS/ˈhɛz.ə.teɪt/AUS/ˈhez.ə.tæɪt/UKHEZ-i-tayt/ˈhɛz.ɪ.teɪt/

3 meanings of hesitate

1
verbintransitive
To wait before doing or deciding something because you are not sure.
Like stopping at a door because you are not sure whether to go inside.
She hesitated before answering the difficult question.
Don't hesitate to ask if you need any help.
Similarpause, waver, dither, falter, vacillate
2
verbintransitive
To pause or stumble while speaking because you feel unsure or nervous.
Like a car that stops and starts when the engine is not running smoothly.
He hesitated over the long name, unsure how to say it.
Try not to hesitate when you read aloud in class.
Similarfalter, stammer, stumble, stutter, pause
3
verbraretransitive
To say something in a slow, unsure way, or to hint at it without really wanting to.
Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike.
a. 1724, Alexander Pope, The Ms. at LongleatHere, hesitate means to hint at something in an unsure, halting way.

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From Latin, from a verb related to haereō meaning "to stick fast."