Hesitant
adjective
Unsure or slow to act because you feel unsure or nervous.
She was hesitant about agreeing to the deal
Often appears as...
- be hesitant
- feel hesitant
adjective
Tending to stop, pause, or wait before doing something, especially because you are unsure or nervous.
He gave me a hesitant smile
Often appears as...
- hesitant smile
- hesitant laugh
adjective
Unsure or slow to act because you feel unsure or nervous.
She was hesitant about agreeing to the deal
Often appears as...
- be hesitant
- feel hesitant
adjective
Tending to stop, pause, or wait before doing something, especially because you are unsure or nervous.
He gave me a hesitant smile
Often appears as...
- hesitant smile
- hesitant laugh
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Uncertainty
Use 'hesitant' to express feelings of mixed emotions or internal doubts when making decisions.
She was hesitant to accept the promotion, fearing the increased responsibility.
Pro Tip 2/3In Decision-Making
'Hesitant' describes someone who delays choosing because they're uncertain about the outcomes.
I'm hesitant to invest in that stock because I don't have enough information.
Pro Tip 3/3Social Situations
In social contexts, being 'hesitant' can show politeness or reluctance to offend others.
He seemed hesitant to criticize her cooking, despite not liking it.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Uncertainty
Use 'hesitant' to express feelings of mixed emotions or internal doubts when making decisions.
She was hesitant to accept the promotion, fearing the increased responsibility.
Pro Tip 2/3In Decision-Making
'Hesitant' describes someone who delays choosing because they're uncertain about the outcomes.
I'm hesitant to invest in that stock because I don't have enough information.
Pro Tip 3/3Social Situations
In social contexts, being 'hesitant' can show politeness or reluctance to offend others.
He seemed hesitant to criticize her cooking, despite not liking it.
Pro Tip 1/3Emotional Uncertainty
Use 'hesitant' to express feelings of mixed emotions or internal doubts when making decisions.
She was hesitant to accept the promotion, fearing the increased responsibility.
Pro Tip 2/3In Decision-Making
'Hesitant' describes someone who delays choosing because they're uncertain about the outcomes.
I'm hesitant to invest in that stock because I don't have enough information.
Pro Tip 3/3Social Situations
In social contexts, being 'hesitant' can show politeness or reluctance to offend others.
He seemed hesitant to criticize her cooking, despite not liking it.
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Video examples
How photography connects...
on leopard seals they have been rarely photographed partly because they are considered one of the most dangerous predators in the ocean in fact a year earlier a researcher had been grabbed by one and pulled down to depth and killed so you could imagine Paul was maybe a little bit hesitant about getting into the water now what leopard seals do
Video examples
Inside a Retirement Home...
I like that now it is some of these guys because they have been used in research some of them are afraid of the grass it's a foreign substrate to them so they're really hesitant they look around for affirmation like is this okay and they'll touch it gingerly and some of
Video examples
Shell Shocked PIPE Dog...
anything that makes him afraid anything in this case we have we have recorded some sound perfect perfect time let's hear it we want the excitement we want him to believe the back see as you see he got a little hesitant look at that that's a battery actor come on buddy
Video examples
Say your truths and seek...
from minor misunderstandings to bigger betrayals. We didn't have the kind of the relationship where we talked about the deeper stuff; but, like many siblings and like people in all kinds of relationships, we were hesitant to tell our truths, to reveal our wounds,
Video examples
Why War Zones Need...
will fund that research but they're more hesitant to fund the kind ella is talking about she says that creates a blind spot in the western science world a blind spot to places we deem too dangerous i believe firmly that science has a geography problem
Video examples
How we'll become cyborgs...
He feels like he just has his leg back, that he has his body back. Now I'm often asked when I'm going to be neurally linked to my synthetic limbs bidirectionally, when I'm going to become a cyborg. The truth is, I'm hesitant to become a cyborg.
Video examples
Hair-Raising Hyena...
you can see he's been very submissive bowing his head every time females go by laying very low why is it that the males are so incredibly timid and hesitant around female hyenas what's that about anatomically
Video examples
The great conspiracy...
and elevating him to important posts. Brutus was hesitant to conspire against the man who had treated him like a son, but in the end, Cassius's insistence and Brutus's own fear of Caesar's ambitions won out.
Video examples
How to talk about weight...
let's talk about something that's important to all of us children one of the most fascinating studies I've ever seen showed that more parents are hesitant to talk to kids about weight
Video examples
How to recover from...
A man was standing at the door, hesitant to press the bell. One minute and 52 seconds. The doorbell rang, a ring that could have saved a life.
Video examples
How photography connects...
on leopard seals they have been rarely photographed partly because they are considered one of the most dangerous predators in the ocean in fact a year earlier a researcher had been grabbed by one and pulled down to depth and killed so you could imagine Paul was maybe a little bit hesitant about getting into the water now what leopard seals do
Video examples
Inside a Retirement Home...
I like that now it is some of these guys because they have been used in research some of them are afraid of the grass it's a foreign substrate to them so they're really hesitant they look around for affirmation like is this okay and they'll touch it gingerly and some of
Video examples
Shell Shocked PIPE Dog...
anything that makes him afraid anything in this case we have we have recorded some sound perfect perfect time let's hear it we want the excitement we want him to believe the back see as you see he got a little hesitant look at that that's a battery actor come on buddy
Video examples
Say your truths and seek...
from minor misunderstandings to bigger betrayals. We didn't have the kind of the relationship where we talked about the deeper stuff; but, like many siblings and like people in all kinds of relationships, we were hesitant to tell our truths, to reveal our wounds,
Video examples
Why War Zones Need...
will fund that research but they're more hesitant to fund the kind ella is talking about she says that creates a blind spot in the western science world a blind spot to places we deem too dangerous i believe firmly that science has a geography problem
Video examples
How we'll become cyborgs...
He feels like he just has his leg back, that he has his body back. Now I'm often asked when I'm going to be neurally linked to my synthetic limbs bidirectionally, when I'm going to become a cyborg. The truth is, I'm hesitant to become a cyborg.
Video examples
Hair-Raising Hyena...
you can see he's been very submissive bowing his head every time females go by laying very low why is it that the males are so incredibly timid and hesitant around female hyenas what's that about anatomically
Video examples
The great conspiracy...
and elevating him to important posts. Brutus was hesitant to conspire against the man who had treated him like a son, but in the end, Cassius's insistence and Brutus's own fear of Caesar's ambitions won out.
Video examples
How to talk about weight...
let's talk about something that's important to all of us children one of the most fascinating studies I've ever seen showed that more parents are hesitant to talk to kids about weight
Video examples
How to recover from...
A man was standing at the door, hesitant to press the bell. One minute and 52 seconds. The doorbell rang, a ring that could have saved a life.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Adam Rippon
American Athlete
I remember when I told my mom that I wanted to come out, and my mom was a little hesitant. She was saying, 'Are you sure? Do you think that might affect your scores?' or, 'Is it something that you think that you need to do?' And I told her, 'I don't care. It's important to me.
Quote examples
Rachel Kushner
American Writer
I'm hesitant to ever take on the crest of the veteran. So I don't know who I am to warn the younger writer about the perils to come. I think maybe the most dangerous influence is to think you have all the answers and should be giving counsel.
Quote examples
Raghava Lawrence
I wanted to do 'Kanchana' in Hindi but many heroes I approached were hesitant to act with the saree and also demanded that the climax song be removed completely. I wrote the script with such passion that I could not agree for any compromise.
Quote examples
Robbie Williams
British Musician
I'm a bit hesitant to do anything because I'm actually kind of lazy and I'd like an easier life from now on. The world's a massive place with lots of early mornings and late starts when you're working.
Quote examples
Margaret Chan
Chinese Public Servant
HIV AIDS is a disease with stigma. And we have learned with experience, not just with HIV AIDS but with other diseases, countries for many reasons are sometimes hesitant to admit they have a problem.
Quote examples
Bobby Bones
American Entertainer
The first book was a life story that I was hesitant to write anyway because I didn't feel like I had a real life story... It was a surprise hit.
Quote examples
Jhumpa Lahiri
American Author
It took me a long time to even dare to envision myself as a writer. I was very uncertain and hesitant and afraid to pursue a creative life.
Quote examples
Mark Goulston
American Psychologist
You can't create more jobs for an economy where the vast majority of people are hesitant and even afraid to spend and buy.
Quote examples
Divya Khosla Kumar
Indian Actress
I was hesitant to ask around for work, so I did a short film called 'Bulbul,' which was praised a lot by people.
Quote examples
Bob Crosby
American Musician
Bing was always hesitant to accept appreciation in any form.
Quote examples
Adam Rippon
American Athlete
I remember when I told my mom that I wanted to come out, and my mom was a little hesitant. She was saying, 'Are you sure? Do you think that might affect your scores?' or, 'Is it something that you think that you need to do?' And I told her, 'I don't care. It's important to me.
Quote examples
Rachel Kushner
American Writer
I'm hesitant to ever take on the crest of the veteran. So I don't know who I am to warn the younger writer about the perils to come. I think maybe the most dangerous influence is to think you have all the answers and should be giving counsel.
Quote examples
Raghava Lawrence
I wanted to do 'Kanchana' in Hindi but many heroes I approached were hesitant to act with the saree and also demanded that the climax song be removed completely. I wrote the script with such passion that I could not agree for any compromise.
Quote examples
Robbie Williams
British Musician
I'm a bit hesitant to do anything because I'm actually kind of lazy and I'd like an easier life from now on. The world's a massive place with lots of early mornings and late starts when you're working.
Quote examples
Margaret Chan
Chinese Public Servant
HIV AIDS is a disease with stigma. And we have learned with experience, not just with HIV AIDS but with other diseases, countries for many reasons are sometimes hesitant to admit they have a problem.
Quote examples
Bobby Bones
American Entertainer
The first book was a life story that I was hesitant to write anyway because I didn't feel like I had a real life story... It was a surprise hit.
Quote examples
Jhumpa Lahiri
American Author
It took me a long time to even dare to envision myself as a writer. I was very uncertain and hesitant and afraid to pursue a creative life.
Quote examples
Mark Goulston
American Psychologist
You can't create more jobs for an economy where the vast majority of people are hesitant and even afraid to spend and buy.
Quote examples
Divya Khosla Kumar
Indian Actress
I was hesitant to ask around for work, so I did a short film called 'Bulbul,' which was praised a lot by people.
Quote examples
Bob Crosby
American Musician
Bing was always hesitant to accept appreciation in any form.
Example 1 of 10
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