verb

pause in indecision before saying or doing something.

she hesitated, unsure of what to say

pause,delay,hang back,wait,shilly-shally,dither,stall,temporize,be in two minds,be in a quandary,be in a dilemma,be on the horns of a dilemma,be uncertain,be hesitant,be unsure,be doubtful,be indecisive,equivocate,vacillate,oscillate,waver,have second thoughts,haver,hum and haw,swither,dilly-dally,blow hot and cold