What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Hesitant vs Hesitated - What's the difference?

hesitant | hesitated |

As an adjective hesitant

is tending to hesitate, wait, or proceed with caution or reservation.

As a verb hesitated is

past tense of hesitate.

hesitant

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Tending to hesitate, wait, or proceed with caution or reservation.
    • I am hesitant to recommend him as a manager because he has a short temper.

    Related terms

    * hesitance * hesitancy * hesitate * hesitation * hesitative

    Anagrams

    * ----

    hesitated

    English

    Verb

    (head)
  • (hesitate)

    • hesitate

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Verb

    (hesitat)
  • To stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.
    • He hesitated''' whether to accept the offer or not; men often '''hesitate in forming a judgment.
    (Alexander Pope)
  • To stammer; to falter in speaking.
  • (transitive, poetic, rare) To utter with hesitation or to intimate by a reluctant manner.
  • *
    • Just hint a fault, and hesitate dislike.

    Usage notes

    * This is a catenative verb that takes the to infinitive . See

    Synonyms

    * deliberate * demur * doubt * falter * mammer * scruple * stammer * waver

    Derived terms

    * hesitant * hesitation

    External links

    * * *