WordWeb Online

1. Pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
   "Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures";
   - waver, waffle [N. Amer, informal], baulk [Brit], balk
    
2. Interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
   "The speaker hesitated";
   - pause

Derived forms: hesitated, hesitating, hesitates

Type of: delay

Encyclopedia: Hesitate