What's the difference between 'hesitate' and 'pause'?

'Hesitate' implies uncertainty, reluctance, or doubt as the reason for stopping; 'pause' is more neutral, indicating simply a temporary stop without necessarily implying internal conflict.

Can 'hesitate' be used in positive contexts?

Yes, it can indicate prudent caution: 'A good doctor will hesitate before prescribing strong antibiotics.'

What preposition typically follows 'hesitate'?

'To' with an infinitive is most common ('hesitate to ask'), but 'before' + gerund/noun ('hesitate before answering'), 'over' ('hesitate over a choice'), and 'at' ('hesitate at the door') are also correct.

Is 'hesitate' a stative or action verb?

It's an action verb describing a specific mental/physical process, so it can be used in continuous forms: 'He was hesitating at that very moment.'

Is “hessite” formal?

Hessite is usually neutral in register.

How do you pronounce “hessite”?

Hessite: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhez.ɪ.teɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhez.ə.teɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

hessite: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

UK/ˈhez.ɪ.teɪt/US/ˈhez.ə.teɪt/

neutral

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Quick answer

What does “hessite” mean?

to pause or delay before doing something due to uncertainty or reluctance.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

to pause or delay before doing something due to uncertainty or reluctance

to be unwilling to do something because of doubt, nervousness, or moral considerations; to speak with pauses indicating uncertainty

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

Usage patterns are nearly identical; 'hesitate' is equally common in both varieties with minimal difference

Connotations

In British English, may slightly more often carry a connotation of polite reluctance; in American English, can sometimes imply weakness or indecision more directly

Frequency

Slightly more frequent in American English corpora (~15%) but this is not perceptible in everyday use

Grammar

How to Use “hessite” in a Sentence

hesitate to + INFINITIVEhesitate + PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE (at/over/before)hesitate + ADVERB

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

hesitate for a momenthesitate brieflyhesitate slightlyhesitate before answeringhesitate to askhesitate to say

medium

hesitate at the doorhesitate over a decisionhesitate in uncertaintyhesitate on the thresholdhesitate before speaking

weak

hesitate and thinkhesitate while consideringhesitate with doubt

Examples

Examples of “hessite” in a Sentence

verb

British English

She didn't hesitate to ring the emergency services.
He hesitated at the edge of the diving board.
I'd hesitate before investing in that company.

American English

Don't hesitate to contact support if you have issues.
She hesitated for just a second before answering.
They wouldn't hesitate to fire someone for that.

adverb

British English

(Note: 'hesitate' is a verb; adverb form is 'hesitantly') She spoke hesitantly.
He walked hesitantly toward the unfamiliar building.
They agreed, though rather hesitantly.

American English

(Note: 'hesitate' is a verb; adverb form is 'hesitantly') He answered hesitantly.
She reached out hesitantly to touch the artifact.
The plan moved forward hesitantly.

adjective

British English

(Note: 'hesitate' is a verb; adjective form is 'hesitant') He gave a hesitant smile.
Her response was hesitant and uncertain.
A hesitant knock sounded at the door.

American English

(Note: 'hesitate' is a verb; adjective form is 'hesitant') He was hesitant to commit.
She took a hesitant step forward.
The government's hesitant approach drew criticism.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Used in decision-making contexts: 'The board didn't hesitate to approve the merger.'

Academic

Common in philosophical or psychological texts discussing decision theory and human behavior

Everyday

Frequent in social interactions: 'Don't hesitate to call if you need help.'

Technical

In robotics/AI: describes programmed caution in autonomous systems

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “hessite”

Strong

falter vacillatedither (BrE informal)equivocate

Neutral

pause delay waver hold back

Weak

think twicebe reluctantbe uncertain

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “hessite”

proceed decideact confidentlyplunge inrush

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “hessite”

Using 'hesitate' with gerund instead of infinitive (INCORRECT: 'He hesitated asking' CORRECT: 'He hesitated to ask')
Confusing 'hesitate' with 'hesitant' (adjective form)
Overusing in formal writing where 'pause' or 'delay' might be more precise

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: 'Hesitate' implies uncertainty, reluctance, or doubt as the reason for stopping; 'pause' is more neutral, indicating simply a temporary stop without necessarily implying internal conflict.
: Yes, it can indicate prudent caution: 'A good doctor will hesitate before prescribing strong antibiotics.'
: 'To' with an infinitive is most common ('hesitate to ask'), but 'before' + gerund/noun ('hesitate before answering'), 'over' ('hesitate over a choice'), and 'at' ('hesitate at the door') are also correct.
: It's an action verb describing a specific mental/physical process, so it can be used in continuous forms: 'He was hesitating at that very moment.'
: to pause or delay before doing something due to uncertainty or reluctance.
: Hessite is usually neutral in register.
: Hessite: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhez.ɪ.teɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhez.ə.teɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“He who hesitates is lost”
“not hesitate for a second”
“without a moment's hesitation”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

HE Sit ATE → Imagine someone sitting to eat, but hesitating because the food looks strange

Conceptual Metaphor

HESITATION IS A PHYSICAL BARRIER ('stuck at the threshold'), HESITATION IS WEIGHING ('weighed the options')

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

She for only a moment before accepting the challenging new role.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses 'hesitate' correctly?