hesitated

VERB

wait; be uncertain

Synonyms

STRONGEST

balk dither falter pause ponder stumble waffle waver

STRONG

alternate balance dally debate defer delay demur dillydally doubt equivocate flounder fluctuate fumble hang hedge hover linger oscillate pussyfoot scruple seesaw shift shrink stammer stop straddle stutter swerve tergiversate vacillate weigh

WEAK

be irresolute be reluctant be unwilling blow hot and cold hang back hem and haw hold back hold off pull back shy away sit on fence think about think twice

Antonyms

STRONGEST

continue persist

STRONG

advance agree do well expedite face go go along hasten hurry meet remain rush stay

WEAK

attack carry on go ahead persevere resolve

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

hesitated

Catalina Sanchez, a 64-year-old secretary who celebrated with her daughters until 4:00 am, hesitated to remove her sunglasses as she headed to work.

From Barron's ● Jul. 20, 2026

But team-mate Olav Kooij did not follow and as the riders hesitated, Waerenskjold sneaked through a gap beside the barriers to launch a counter-attack with 400m remaining.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

Publishers in America hesitated to bring out the book, but when G.P.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

Had she hesitated, she notes, she might have talked herself out of sharing it.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 7, 2026

I hesitated at the front door, wishing I were there to talk about the Andromeda Galaxy or the new Mars rover.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas