suspend

verb

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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 Phrases Containing suspend Learn More About suspend

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. See More

Recent Examples on the Web Biden has called on Congress to suspend the federal gas tax for three months to help alleviate the economic burden to consumers, but has encountered resistance from his own party. — Erin Prater, Fortune, 3 July 2022 That means Goodell could ultimately overrule Robinson’s decision and suspend Watson for one year or even indefinitely due to the potential for more cases. — Rob Maaddi, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2022 Biden has released over 180 million gallons of oil from the nation’s emergency reserves, called on Congress to suspend the federal gas tax for three months and tried to cajole energy companies into boosting oil production. — Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 24 June 2022 President Joe Biden called on Congress to suspend the federal gas tax for three months. — Mark Murray, NBC News, 23 June 2022 On Wednesday, President Joe Biden called on Congress to suspend federal gasoline and diesel taxes for three months with hopes of easing financial pressures at the pump. — CBS News, 22 June 2022 President Joe Biden is expected to ask Congress Wednesday to suspend the federal gas tax for three months in an effort to ease Americans' pain at the pump. — Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 22 June 2022 President Joe Biden plans to ask Congress to suspend the federal gas tax for three months as prices at the pumps soar, but don't expect Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine to follow suit. — Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 22 June 2022 On Wednesday, President Biden will urge Congress to suspend the federal gas tax of 18.3 cents per gallon for three months. — Yiwen Lu, Washington Post, 22 June 2022 See More

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.