hesitatingly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hesitatingly" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action done with hesitation or uncertainty. Example: "She spoke hesitatingly, unsure of how her words would be received."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

What was revealed to him was the fall of the house of Eli, a message that Samuel hesitatingly related to Eli.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"The people are also tired of the government and the illegal militias," he said hesitatingly, prompting the President to nod in encouragement.

Independent

Sir John Lavery tells us that in New York, when riding on a crowded bus on Fifth Avenue, he spoke hesitatingly to the conductor, "Let me down at 42nd St., will you?" A little Later, afraid of passing the corner, he said, "You'll let me down at 42nd Street?" The conductor's reply was, "Keep your shirt on!" ".

The New Yorker

When she encouraged him, he responded more hesitatingly: "Let me noodle hard about it.

The New Yorker

JIMMY (after a pause — hesitatingly): Nordstrum — the big Swede, you know, that comes in from the Market — I was talking to him last night.

The New Yorker

"Hey, Rudy!" he shouted, and offered him a fist pound, which Le Meunier reciprocated, hesitatingly and wordlessly, before heading to Caitlin O'Neill's station nearby.

The New Yorker

In "Beautiful," King wakes up, finds the lyrics that Goffin stayed up all night writing to her tune, sits at the piano, and sings and plays, hesitatingly.

The New Yorker

The Nazis offer themselves sometimes hesitatingly, sometimes proudly, with coy avowals of pity for the Jews, or with outrageous pity for themselves as overworked executioners; the survivors speak with hallucinatory vividness.

The New Yorker

"On the ground that it would tend to degrade or incriminate you?" "Well — yes," hesitatingly.

The New Yorker

He knows how to turn a phrase, noting that Mr. Stephanopoulos hesitatingly joined "Good Morning America" still "worried about feeling like a cod liver oil pill in a jar of jelly beans".

The New York Times - Books

On both occasions, the complainant recounted the rape with great emotion and conviction: she cried, spoke hesitatingly and appeared understandably distraught, and during the first interview, even laid her head face down on her arms on a table in front of her".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "hesitatingly", consider the context. Ensure it aligns with the character's emotions and motivations. Overuse can weaken the impact, so use it judiciously for emphasis.

Common error

Avoid using "hesitatingly" when a stronger adverb like "fearfully" or "reluctantly" better captures the emotional intensity. "Hesitatingly" implies mild uncertainty, not strong aversion or fear.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "hesitatingly" functions primarily to modify verbs, indicating that an action is performed with hesitation, uncertainty, or reluctance. As supported by Ludwig, this is a correct and usable word in English. It adds nuance by describing the manner in which the action is carried out.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

6%

Reference

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "hesitatingly" is a grammatically sound adverb used to describe actions performed with uncertainty or reluctance. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in English writing. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts, adding nuance to descriptions of actions and conveying a character's internal state. While synonyms like "uncertainly" or "tentatively" exist, "hesitatingly" offers a specific shade of meaning. Employ it judiciously to enrich your writing and avoid overuse, which could diminish its impact. Therefore, understanding its subtle implications is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with hesitation

Replaces the adverb with a prepositional phrase using the noun form of the root word.

in a hesitant manner

Rephrases the adverb into a longer, more descriptive phrase using "manner".

uncertainly

Uses a direct synonym that captures the sense of doubt or lack of confidence.

reluctantly

Suggests a degree of unwillingness or aversion in addition to hesitation.

tentatively

Implies an experimental or cautious approach due to uncertainty.

with reservation

Indicates holding back or expressing doubt about something.

faltering

Suggests a loss of strength or momentum, implying a wavering manner.

haltingly

Emphasizes the pauses and interruptions in speech or action.

with trepidation

Adds a sense of fear or anxiety to the hesitation.

without conviction

Highlights the lack of strong belief or certainty behind the action or words.

FAQs

How can I use "hesitatingly" in a sentence?

"Hesitatingly" is an adverb that describes how an action is performed, indicating hesitation or uncertainty. For example, "She "hesitatingly" reached for the door handle, unsure of what lay beyond."

What are some words similar to "hesitatingly"?

Synonyms for "hesitatingly" include "uncertainly", "tentatively", and "reluctantly". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "hesitatingly" in formal writing?

Yes, "hesitatingly" is appropriate for formal writing. It is a standard adverb that clearly communicates a sense of hesitation or uncertainty.

What's the difference between "hesitatingly" and "hesitantly"?

"Hesitatingly" and "hesitantly" are synonyms and can be used interchangeably. Both adverbs describe doing something with hesitation. You can use whichever sounds better in your sentence.