hesitated

"The student's hesitation before answering the question was noticeable. "

"What is your question?"

"The student was reluctant to participate in the class discussion, offering resistance to speaking up. "

"There's a lot of uncertainty about the final exam's topic, so students are studying everything. "

"The suspense about the test results lasted all weekend. "

"The teacher's judgment of the student's essay was based on clear criteria. "

"He answered the question."

"Through sheer determination, we managed to escape from the tornado."

"After careful consideration, the student made a decision about which college to attend. "

"The speaking portion of the exam made me nervous. "

"She is an intellectual giant, and I respect her greatly."

"He hesitated whether to accept the offer or not; men often hesitate in forming a judgment."