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 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 Talking can release thousands of fluid droplets per second that can remain suspended in the air for 8 to 14 minutes, according to a study conducted under experimental conditions by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. — Sam Whiting, SFChronicle.com, "Is risk of coronavirus transmission lower outside? What to know before going outdoors," 21 May 2020 New laboratory research released last week by the National Academy of Sciences found potentially infectious droplets can remain suspended in air for as long as 14 minutes. — David Z. Morris, Fortune, "Where does the six-foot rule for social distancing come from?," 20 May 2020 Sanders suspended his campaign for the Democratic race for the president on April 8. — Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati.com, "Bernie Sanders blasts Kroger CEO's pay as 'disgusting'," 20 May 2020 For instance, Jumia suspended delivery of all fashion items in South Africa last month. — Yomi Kazeem, Quartz Africa, "African e-commerce is getting a much needed boost from coronavirus lockdowns," 19 May 2020 Under the current order of the state Supreme Court, jury trials remain suspended until after Memorial Day, in response to complaints about widely disparate responses to the pandemic around the state. — Bruce Vielmetti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Jury trials in Wisconsin courts may become a rare luxury as officials balance the risks of coronavirus and the need for a fair trial," 18 May 2020 One recent study found that just talking can launch thousands of droplets that can remain suspended in the air for eight to 14 minutes. — Michael Levenson, New York Times, "What We Know About Your Chances of Catching the Virus Outdoors," 15 May 2020 But, of course, Sanders has suspended his campaign, and Joe Biden is the Party’s de facto nominee. — Eric Lach, The New Yorker, "Joe Biden’s Pitch to the Left," 15 May 2020 Toll charges have resumed as well, while all fares for rail and buses remain suspended for the time being. — Shacamree Gowdy, Houston Chronicle, "Metro's HOV/HOT lanes reopen in Houston," 11 May 2020

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.