Definition of suspend
transitive verb
1 : to debar temporarily especially from a privilege, office, or function suspend a student from school
2a : to cause to stop temporarily suspend bus serviceb : 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
5a : hang; especially : to hang so as to be free on all sides except at the point of support suspend a ball by a threadb : to keep from falling or sinking by some invisible support (such as buoyancy) dust suspended in the airc : to put or hold in suspension suspended sediment
6a : 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
From the M-W Editors
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 of suspend from the Web
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The art-meets-nature experience lets people walk through the glowing greenery while suspended 82 feet above the forest floor.
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The board suspended Taylor and ordered more treatment.
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In mid-September, the two Batista brothers agreed to provide a guarantee of 1.5 billion reais ($479 million) to the court in return for reversing a decision that suspended them from work during the fraud investigation.
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As a result, the top brass temporarily suspended the AP’s filing facilities throughout Europe, more than 50 of Kennedy’s fellow correspondents signed a petition against him, and AP’s president, Robert McLean, issued an apology.
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An MBTA transit official closes a door at Malden Center station in Malden, Massachusetts, on April 18, 2013 as area MBTA commuter trains are suspended, while police search for a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing.
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Synopsis: Hitler's Xbox Live account is suspended, leaving him unable to download the latest updates and enjoy multi-player games.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'suspend'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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.
Origin and Etymology of suspend
Middle English, from Anglo-French suspendre, from Latin suspendere, from sub-, sus- up + pendere to cause to hang, weigh
First Known Use: 14th century
Synonym Discussion of suspend
SUSPEND Defined for English Language Learners
suspend
playDefinition of suspend for English Language Learners
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: to force (someone) to leave a job, position, or place for a usually short period of time as a form of punishment
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: to stop (something) for a usually short period of time
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: to make (something) happen later : to delay (something)
SUSPEND Defined for Kids
suspend
playDefinition of suspend for Students
suspended
;suspending
1 : to force to give up some right or office for a time The cheater was suspended from school.
2 : to hang especially so as to be free except at one point A light bulb was suspended from the ceiling.
3 : to stop or do away with for a time The principal is suspending a rule.
4 : to stop operation or action for a time All business suspended during the storm.
Word Root of suspend
The Latin word pendere, meaning “to cause to hang down,” gives us the root pend. Words from the Latin pendere have something to do with hanging. To suspend is to cause something to hang down from a single point. To depend is to hang, or rely, on the support of others. A pendant is an ornament that hangs free, as on a necklace. A pendulum is an object hung from a point that swings freely back and forth, as in a clock.
Law Dictionary
suspend
Legal Definition of suspend
1 : to debar temporarily from a privilege, office, or function
2a : 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
Learn More about suspend
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See words that rhyme with suspend Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for suspend Spanish Central: Translation of suspend Nglish: Translation of suspend for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of suspend for Arabic speakers
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