English verb: hesitate | |||
1. | hesitate (stative) pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness | ||
Samples | Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures. | ||
Synonyms | waffle, waver | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s to INFINITIVE. Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | boggle, dwell on, falter, hover, hover, linger, linger over, oscillate, vacillate, vibrate, waver | ||
Entail | doubt | ||
2. | hesitate (stative) interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing | ||
Samples | The speaker paused. | ||
Examples | They hesitate a long time | ||
Synonyms | pause | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s. Somebody ----s whether INFINITIVE | ||
Broader (hypernym) | delay | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | hem and haw, scruple | ||