hesitancy

/ˈhezɪtənsi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhezɪtənsi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhe-zə-tən(t)-sē/ (ame, mw)

hesitancy — noun

  • hesitancysingular
  • hesitanciesplural

1. the state of being slow to act or speak because you feel nervous, unsure, or not

1.名詞B2
釋義

the state of being slow to act or speak because you feel nervous, unsure, or not confident about what to do

例句

Yuki felt a brief hesitancy before pressing the send button on her resignation email.

collocation: brief hesitancy — a short moment of doubt

Noticeable hesitancy crept into the witness's voice when the lawyer mentioned the robbery.

pattern: hesitancy in [someone's] voice

同義詞
  • hesitation

    more common; often refers to a single instance of pausing rather than a general state

  • uncertainty

    broader; can apply to any lack of certainty, not just delay in action

  • indecision

    focuses on difficulty making a choice, stronger than hesitancy

  • doubt

    more about lack of belief or trust than delay

反義詞
  • certainty

    complete confidence with no delay or doubt

  • readiness

    willingness to act without pause

文法句型

hesitancy + about + noun/gerund

hesitancy + in + noun/gerund

用法筆記

Commonly followed by 'about' (hesitancy about doing something) or 'in' (hesitancy in responding). Unlike 'hesitation,' which describes a single pause, 'hesitancy' refers to an ongoing state or tendency.

常見錯誤

❌There was some hesitancy to answer the question.
✅There was some hesitancy in answering the question.
💡'hesitancy about/in + gerund' is more natural than 'hesitancy to + infinitive' for this sense.
❌I felt a hesitancy.
✅I felt some hesitancy.
💡As an uncountable noun, 'hesitancy' is not typically used with the indefinite article 'a' in this sense (though 'a moment of hesitancy' is fine).

2. a feeling that makes you unwilling to do something, especially because you do no

2.名詞B2
釋義

a feeling that makes you unwilling to do something, especially because you do not want to participate or commit yourself

例句

The students showed clear hesitancy about attending extra classes during their winter break.

pattern: hesitancy about + gerund (unwillingness sense)

Fatima could not hide her hesitancy when her manager asked her to relocate to the Tokyo office.

同義詞
  • reluctance

    nearly identical in meaning; slightly more common in everyday speech

  • unwillingness

    more direct and strong; implies definite refusal rather than mere lack of eagerness

  • disinclination

    more formal; suggests a mild lack of enthusiasm

反義詞
  • eagerness

    strong desire to do something

  • enthusiasm

    active interest and excitement about doing something

文法句型

hesitancy + about + noun/gerund

hesitancy + to + infinitive

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this sense emphasises emotional resistance or unwillingness — the person COULD act but does not WANT to. Sense 1 emphasises doubt or nervousness — the person WANTS to act but is too uncertain.

常見錯誤

❌His hesitancy was because he was scared of the dark.' (if meaning uncertainty)
✅Use sense 1 for doubt-based delay; use sense 2 when the person simply does not want to do something.
❌She had hesitancy to go to the party because she was shy.
✅She had hesitancy about going to the party because she was shy.
💡See usage note above for gerund vs infinitive preference.