Going topless, hesitate to change (5)
I believe the answer is:
alter
'change' is the definition.
('alter' can be a synonym of 'change')
'going topless hesitate' is the wordplay.
'going topless' means to remove the first letter.
'hesitate' becomes 'falter' (faltering is a kind of hesitating).
'falter' with its initial letter taken away is 'ALTER'.
'to' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for alter that I've seen before include "convert" , "Amend" , "Change, maybe later" , "Bout of extravagant spending" , "Change or adjust" .)