easy
Do not hesitate to ask for help.
What does Hesitate mean?
Hesitate means to pause because you are unsure.
Dictionary definition
Hesitate means to pause before doing or saying something because you are unsure, nervous, or careful.
Example sentences
Hesitate in a sentence
medium
The swimmer hesitated before jumping into the pool.
hard
A character may hesitate when a choice feels difficult or uncertain.
Writing practice
Ready to write your own? Study the examples, then practice hesitate in a sentence with Sentence Builder checklist feedback.
Quick practice
⬡ Earn 5 Honey
Practice the meaning of Hesitate
Answer three quick questions about its meaning and related words.
Question 1 of 3
Practice 1
What does hesitate mean?
To pause because you are unsure matches the meaning of the word.
Practice 2
Which word is closest in meaning to hesitate?
To hesitate is to pause before acting.
Practice 3
Which word is an opposite or strong contrast for hesitate?
Act is a contrast because it means doing something rather than pausing.
Practice complete
Nice work!
You completed 3 questions.
Pronunciation coach
⬡ Earn 5 Honey
Hesitate
Voice settings
Sounds like
hez · ih · tayt · strongest beat: hez
Tap each sound part, then blend the whole word together.
Learn
WordHesitate.
Partverb.
MeaningHesitate means to pause because you are unsure.
ExampleExample: Do not hesitate to ask for help.
Word breakdown
3 syllables. Say each part, then blend the word.
- Syllables
- hez · ih · tayt
- Strongest beat
- hez
- Ending
- tayt
- Tip
- Put a little extra energy on hez.
Your turn
Say Hesitate
Record a short attempt, then compare it with the Coach. Your recording stays on this device and is not uploaded.
Coach
My attempt
Ready when you are.
Nice work—you practiced hesitate.
Synonyms
Words like Hesitate
Antonyms
Opposite words
Synonym practice
Want to practice hesitate synonyms in context? Try a Synonym Search question like "Nora did not hesitate before raising her hand," then compare close word choices. Practice hesitate synonyms.
Word family
Hesitate word family
Base word
hesitate
verb
hesitated
Paused in the past.
verb
hesitating
Pausing because of uncertainty.
noun
hesitation
A pause caused by uncertainty.
Related words
Explore related words
Student support
Understand Hesitate
Hint for students
Hesitate means to pause because you are unsure.
Common mix-up
Hesitate is not the same as act. Hesitate means hesitate means to pause because you are unsure.
Try it in class or at home
Read this model sentence: The swimmer hesitated before jumping into the pool. Clue words: swimmer, hesitated, jumping. Underline clue words that show why hesitate fits instead of act. Now write one new sentence that shows hesitate without using the word hesitate. Ask: Does my sentence clearly show hesitate?
Teacher prompt
Ask students to explain this model sentence: "The swimmer hesitated before jumping into the pool." Why does hesitate fit better than act?
Learning activities
Practice Hesitate and explore more word games
Cards labelled “Practice HESITATE” keep this word in focus. Explore cards open games with other words.
Practice HESITATE
Sentence Builder
Write your own sentence with this word and revise with checklist feedback.
Write a sentence with HESITATE
Explore · Spelling
Spell Hive
Hear the word, type the spelling, and use spoken clues when needed.
Practice spelling
Explore · Definitions
Define the Word Hive
Choose the meaning that fits and get instant feedback.
Practice definitions
Explore · Matching
Vocabulary Match
Pair words with meanings and review misses with dictionary links.
Match meanings
Explore · Context
Context Clue Challenge
Use sentence clues to choose the word that fits the meaning.
Use context clues
Practice HESITATE
Synonym Search
Compare meanings in a question that includes HESITATE.
Practice HESITATE
Explore · Scramble
Scrambled Bees
Rebuild words from mixed-up letters for spelling practice.
Rebuild words