hesitated
past form of “hesitate” — pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
An inflected form of hesitate · past form.
How often you will meet it
Rank 1,828 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 9,912 times across 155,139 chapters — 0.005% of every word in the library.
What it means
verb
- pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness also: waver, waffle Authorities hesitate to quote exact figures
- interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing also: pause The speaker paused
hesitated in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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Katherine hesitated for a moment, then she surrendered.
The Abandoned Room · Wadsworth Camp · Chapter 1
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Kiki hesitated, but saw no reason to deny it.
The Magic of Oz · L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum · Chapter 1
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Mr. Burton hesitated, and, the widow happening to look away, shook his fist at his superior officer.
Admiral Peters Odd Craft, Part 14. · W. W. (William Wymark) Jacobs · Chapter 1
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He hesitated so long, that at last, one evening, “You may unpack the trunks,” he said to his wife.
Other People's Money · Emile Gaboriau · Chapter 1
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While he hesitated the nixy spoke, called him by his name, and asked him why he was so sad.
The Yellow Fairy Book: The Grateful Beasts · World Traditions (Celtic, Norse, Asian & Persian) · Chapter 1