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Hesitate vs Undecided - What's the difference?

hesitate | undecided |

As a verb hesitate

is to stop or pause respecting decision or action; to be in suspense or uncertainty as to a determination.

As an adjective undecided is

open and not yet settled or determined.

As a noun undecided is

a voter etc. who has not yet come to a decision.

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

    undecided

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Open and not yet settled or determined.
  • The question of man's destiny is still undecided .
  • Uncommitted, not having reached a decision.
  • The result of the election is in doubt because of a large number of undecided voters.

    Synonyms

    * (open and not yet settled) indeterminate, unsettled, indecisive * ambivalent, irresolute, of two minds, indecisive

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A voter etc. who has not yet come to a decision.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2008, date=February 17, author=Jennifer Finney Boylan, title=At the Maine Caucuses, a Tough Nut to Crack, work=New York Times citation
  • , passage=The real drama came as these two camps fought for undecideds , who literally found themselves in the middle. }}