Hi guys,

Can you please tell me what "hesitant smile" means? I guess it means "reluctantly" smile??

I asked her a question, but she was "hesitant" to answer me. Here, "hesistant" means "unwilling" or "reluctant"?

Thank you for your help

Question

Hi guys,

Can you please tell me what "hesitant smile" means? I guess it means "reluctantly" smile??

I asked her a question, but she was "hesitant" to answer me. Here, "hesistant" means "unwilling" or "reluctant"?

Thank you for your help

Answer

Hesitant=uncertain about what to do or say because you are nervous or unwilling,

"Hesitant smile"- the smile that expressed that a person is uncertain/nervous about something.

Answer

I would say you are correct on hesitant smile, but it's not a common English phrase.

Hesitant to answer might mean reluctance, but might just be one taking time to choose how to respond, for any of the reasons you might imagine.