hesitate
gb/hˈɛzɪtˌeɪt/ us/hˈɛzɪtˌeɪt/
B1
English
~ 1600
habozik, vonakodik, nem szívesen, ódzkodik
VERB
B1
1
habozik
B2
Usage pattern:
to hesitate before [doing something]
She hesitated before knocking on the door.
Egy pillanatig habozott, mielőtt bekopogott az ajtón.
He didn't hesitate to help when she asked.
Amikor a nő segítséget kért tőle, egy percig sem habozott segíteni.
I hesitated for a moment, unsure what to say.
They hesitated before signing the contract.
Learner examples
I hesitated before I spoke.
Haboztam, mielőtt megszólaltam.
He did not hesitate to help me.
Egy percig sem habozott segíteni nekem.
She hesitated for a second and then ran.
We hesitated before we went inside.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'hesitate' with 'wait'. 'Wait' means to stay until something happens, while 'hesitate' means to pause because you are unsure.
Meaning
Pause because of uncertainty or fear
Collocations
hesitate to ask
|hesitate before speaking
|hesitate for a moment
|did not hesitate
Synonyms
pause (A more general term for stopping briefly, not always due to uncertainty.)
|
waver (Suggests a lack of firmness in decision, often over a longer time.)
Antonyms
act (To take action without pausing or delaying.)
|
decide (To make a choice firmly without delay.)
Themes
emotions
|communication
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To stop for a short time before you do or say something because you feel unsure or worried.
To stop briefly before doing or saying something, often because of feeling unsure, nervous, or unwilling.
VERB
B1
2
Usage pattern:
to hesitate to [do something]
She hesitated to tell him the truth.
Vonakodott elmondani neki az igazat.
I hesitate to recommend this restaurant after my last visit.
A legutóbbi látogatásom után nem szívesen ajánlom ezt az éttermet.
They hesitated to invest in the risky project.
Learner examples
I hesitate to ask you for help.
Nem szívesen kérlek meg, hogy segíts.
She hesitates to try new food.
Vonakodik új ételeket kipróbálni.
They hesitate to join the game.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with 'refuse', but 'hesitate' implies uncertainty rather than a firm no.
Meaning
Be unwilling or slow to act
Collocations
hesitate to speak up
|hesitate to spend money
|hesitate to interfere
Synonyms
delay (To put off action, which may be intentional and not only due to reluctance.)
|
hold back (Informal; suggests stopping oneself from acting.)
Antonyms
jump at (To accept an opportunity quickly and eagerly.)
|
rush into (To do something quickly without thinking.)
Themes
emotions
|decision-making
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To not want to do something right away because you think it may be bad or hard.
To be slow or unwilling to do something because you feel it might be wrong, difficult, or unpleasant.
Grammar
Dictionary form
hesitate
IPA
GB/hˈɛzɪtˌeɪt/
US/hˈɛzɪtˌeɪt/
Syllables & stress
hes - it - ate (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (hes)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: hesitate
- 3rd Person Singular: hesitates
- Present Participle: hesitating
- Past: hesitated
Word family
Forms
hesitates
verb
hesitating
verb
hesitated
verb
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
unhesitating
adjective
unhesitatingly
adverb
Advanced or less common
hesitancy
noun
Expressions
he who hesitates is lost
1/hˈi hˈu hˈɛzɪtˌeɪts ˈɪz lˈɔst/
idiom
Delaying can cause missed chances
If you wait too long to decide, you may miss your chance.
Examples
- Remember, he who hesitates is lost—take the opportunity now.
- She learned the hard way that he who hesitates is lost.
hesitate to ask
1/hˈɛzɪtˌeɪt tə ˈæsk/
fixed phrase
Be unwilling to ask for something
To feel unsure or shy about asking for something.
Examples
- Please don't hesitate to ask if you need anything.
- He hesitated to ask for directions because he thought he knew the way.
without hesitation
1/wɪðˈaʊt hˌɛzɪtˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Immediately and confidently
To do something right away and with confidence, without stopping to think or doubt.
Examples
- She accepted the job offer without hesitation.
- Without hesitation, he jumped into the water to save the child.
without hesitation
2/wɪðˈaʊt hˌɛzɪtˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Do something immediately and confidently
To do something right away without stopping to think or doubt.
Examples
- She accepted the offer without hesitation.
- He jumped into the water without hesitation.