1. (v. i.) To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination; as, he hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often hesitate in forming a judgment.

2. (v. i.) To stammer; to falter in speaking.

3. (v. t.) To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner.

alternate back down balance balk be dilatory blench boggle call a recess debate delay deliberate demur dither equivocate falter fear fight shy of filibuster flinch fluctuate fumble gain time halt hang hang back hang fire hang in doubt hang off have qualms haver haw hem hem and haw hold back hold off hover hum hum and haw jib let up make bones about make time mammer pause play for time ponder procrastinate pull back quail recess recoil rest retreat scruple shilly-shally shrink shrink from shy shy at splutter sputter stall stall for time stall off stammer stick at stickle stooge around stop to consider straddle the fence strain strain at stumble stutter take a recess talk against time temporize tergiversate think twice think twice about vacillate wait waver wince withdraw yield