In a manner that involves hesitating; with pauses, doubt, and reluctance shown through hesitant behavior.
Formed from the present participle 'hesitating' by adding the adverbial suffix -ly. This creates a more dynamic feel than 'hesitantly,' emphasizing the ongoing action of hesitating rather than the state of being hesitant.
English speakers often have multiple adverbs to describe the same thing—'hesitantly,' 'hesitatingly,' 'reluctantly'—but they choose based on subtle shifts in meaning. 'Hesitatingly' makes the hesitation feel like an active process unfolding, while 'hesitantly' is more of a static quality. These distinctions matter to good writers.
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