suspend

verb

sus·​pend sə-ˈspend How to pronounce suspend (audio)
suspended; suspending; suspends

transitive verb

1
: to debar temporarily especially from a privilege, office, or function
suspend a student from school
2
a
: to cause to stop temporarily
suspend bus service
b
: to set aside or make temporarily inoperative
suspend the rules
3
: to defer to a later time on specified conditions
suspend sentence
4
: to hold in an undetermined or undecided state awaiting further information
suspend judgment
suspend disbelief
5
a
: hang
especially : to hang so as to be free on all sides except at the point of support
suspend a ball by a thread
b
: to keep from falling or sinking by some invisible support (such as buoyancy)
dust suspended in the air
c
: to put or hold in suspension
suspended sediment
6
a
: to keep fixed or lost (as in wonder or contemplation)
b
: to keep waiting in suspense or indecision
7
: to hold (a musical note) over into the following chord

intransitive verb

1
: to cease operation temporarily
2
: to stop payment or fail to meet obligations
3
: hang

Did you know?

When something is suspended, it is "left hanging;" it is neither in full operation nor permanently ended. Suspense is a state of uncertainty and maybe anxiety. When we watch a play or movie, we enjoy experiencing a "suspension of disbelief;" that is, we allow ourselves to believe we're watching reality, even though we aren't truly fooled.Suspension can also mean physical hanging; thus, in a suspension bridge, the roadway actually hangs from huge cables. When some substance is "in suspension", its particles are "hanging" in another substance, mixed into it but not actually dissolved, like fine sand in water, or sea spray in the air at the seashore.

Choose the Right Synonym for suspend

defer, postpone, suspend, stay mean to delay an action or proceeding.

defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time.

deferred buying a car until spring

postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time.

the game is postponed until Saturday

suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied.

business will be suspended while repairs are underway

stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority.

the governor stayed the execution

Examples of suspend in a Sentence

He was suspended from the team for missing too many practices. The police officers were suspended without pay for their conduct. The principal suspended the student from school for fighting. The city suspended bus service during the storm. The company was forced to suspend operations. They have suspended the peace talks. I advise suspending judgment until the investigation is over. Her license to practice law was suspended. We can suspend the rules just this once. He's driving with a suspended license.
Recent Examples on the Web The law carries penalties that include suspending or removing teaching certificates, and opens schools to lawsuits from parents who feel teachers are violating it. Lori Rozsa, Washington Post, 11 Mar. 2024 Batik Air said in a statement that both pilots involved in the flight had been temporarily suspended. Yan Zhuang, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Garcia Richard, a Democrat elected to a second term in 2020. acknowledged that the state will miss out on smaller, one-time bonus payments while some lease sales are suspended. Morgan Lee, Quartz, 8 Mar. 2024 Koss’ sentencing will be deferred for a year, Judge Kerry Ann McDonald-Cady said, and his license to drive will be suspended during that time. Rob Frehse, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 Other reports that were suspended were 109,000 reports filed with the major assault division and 91,000 in property and financial crimes, Finner said. USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024 Trump was banned or suspended by numerous platforms in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, including by Facebook and Instagram, for violating rules against inciting violence. Todd Spangler, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024 On January 26, Israel presented evidence indicating that at least 12 UN Relief and Works Agency workers partook in the October 7 massacre, causing an uproar among UN members and major donor states, leading some of them to suspend their funding. Amos Yadlin, Foreign Affairs, 8 Mar. 2024 From orbit, Titan looks like a hazy ball of bronze, thanks to hydrocarbon particles suspended high in the sky. Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suspend.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French suspendre, from Latin suspendere, from sub-, sus- up + pendere to cause to hang, weigh

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of suspend was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near suspend

Cite this Entry

“Suspend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suspend. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

suspend

verb
sus·​pend sə-ˈspend How to pronounce suspend (audio)
1
: to force to give up some right or position for a time
suspend a student from school
2
a
: to stop or do away with for a time
suspend bus service
b
: to put off on certain conditions
suspend a lawbreaker's sentence
3
a
: to hang so as to be free on all sides except at the point of support
b
: to keep from falling or sinking by some invisible support
dust suspended in the air
c
: to put or hold in suspension
suspended sediment

Legal Definition

suspend

transitive verb
sus·​pend
1
: to debar temporarily from a privilege, office, or function
2
a
: to stop temporarily
suspend trading
b
: to make temporarily ineffective
suspend a license
c
: stay
suspend a hearing
d
: to defer until a later time see also suspended sentence at sentence

More from Merriam-Webster on suspend

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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