suspend

verb

sus·pend | \ sə-ˈspend

suspended; suspending; suspends

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 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

5a : 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

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

2 : to stop payment or fail to meet obligations

3 : hang

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about suspend

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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

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.

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

Most significantly, the NFL would have to give Brown an opportunity to rebut Taylor’s claims before suspending him. — Michael Mccann, SI.com, "What Will Come Out of the NFL's Meeting With Antonio Brown's Accuser?," 15 Sep. 2019 The state suspended his medical license in 2016 for failing to exercise reasonable care and for violating notice and documentation requirements, the Tribune reported. — The Washington Post, oregonlive, "More than 2,000 fetal remains found at home of Indiana abortion doctor," 14 Sep. 2019 The boy showed up to school in December 2018 despite being suspended. — Scott Travis, sun-sentinel.com, "Assistant principal accused of striking student retires," 13 Sep. 2019 The aircraft suffered cost overruns and technical problems entering service, and earlier this year the Air Force twice suspended deliveries over construction debris, tools, and other items found sealed in aircraft. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "The Air Force’s Latest Tanker Is Banned from Carrying Cargo and Passengers," 13 Sep. 2019 At Lewis Smith, best action is for striped bass after dark on lighted docks suspended over deep water. — Frank Sargeant, al, "Friday Fishing Report: How heat wave is affecting the bass bite," 13 Sep. 2019 Prosecutors are recommending Schwarzman serve 10 years in prison and five years of probation, Shellenberger said, with an additional 10 years in prison suspended. — Wilborn P. Nobles Iii, baltimoresun.com, "Baltimore County driver pleads guilty in 2018 deaths of 5-year-old and her grandmother," 13 Sep. 2019 Everyone has opinions about whether or not Johnson was right to suspend parliament for five weeks as the clock ticks down to Oct. 31, the date set for Brexit. — Rashmee Roshan Lall, Quartz, "Only Plato can explain the confusion over Brexit in the UK’s highest courts," 13 Sep. 2019 Swedzinski called for a House investigation into the matter and for Hortman to suspend Long from his posts as assistant majority leader and vice chair of the House Energy and Climate Division. — Dave Orrick, Twin Cities, "UMN and local foundation scramble to address lawmaker’s hiring," 12 Sep. 2019

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.