hesitant
adjective
hes·i·tant
ˈhe-zə-tənt 
: slow to act or proceed (as from fear, indecision, or unwillingness) : tending to hesitate : showing or feeling reluctance or hesitation
took a hesitant step towards the door
hesitant about accepting the job
hesitantly
adverb
Examples of hesitant in a Sentence
She took a hesitant step back from the door.
He seems hesitant about accepting the job.
Recent Examples on the Web
Carvalho said the agents were not in uniform and appeared hesitant to show their official identification, doing so only briefly when the principals attempted to note their details.
—
David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
O’Neill Clubs are usually hesitant in handing out bumper contracts to attackers on the wrong side of thirty, and with good reason.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Amanda Peet and Olivia Munn aren't hesitant to throw down.
—Brianne Tracy, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Lu and experts predict that in tighter times, Americans will likely be more hesitant both to buy new clothes and to donate their old ones.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitant
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David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Apr. 2025
O’Neill Clubs are usually hesitant in handing out bumper contracts to attackers on the wrong side of thirty, and with good reason.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
Amanda Peet and Olivia Munn aren't hesitant to throw down.
—Brianne Tracy, People.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Lu and experts predict that in tighter times, Americans will likely be more hesitant both to buy new clothes and to donate their old ones.
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hesitant
Cite this Entry
“Hesitant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hesitant. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
hesitant
adjective
hes·i·tant
ˈhez-ə-tənt
: tending to hesitate : slow to act or proceed
hesitantly
adverb
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