suspense

noun

sus·​pense sə-ˈspen(t)s 

1

: the state of being suspended : suspension

2

a

: mental uncertainty : anxiety

b

: pleasant excitement as to a decision or outcome

a novel of suspense

3

: the state or character of being undecided or doubtful : indecisiveness

suspenseful

sə-ˈspen(t)s-fəl 

adjective

suspensefully

sə-ˈspen(t)s-fə-lē 

adverb

suspensefulness

sə-ˈspen(t)s-fəl-nəs 

noun

suspenseless

sə-ˈspen(t)s-ləs 

adjective

Synonyms of suspense

• suspension

Examples of suspense in a Sentence

I can't bear the suspense.

The suspense builds as the story progresses.

Alfred Hitchcock was a master of suspense.

The movie is a suspense thriller.

Recent Examples on the Web

But as the film unspooled, the crowd became increasingly animated, shouting at the screen and really dialing into the film’s white-knuckle suspense. — Chris Nashawaty, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2026

Worse is how The Good Daughter, adapted by veteran suspense author and rookie showrunner Karin Slaughter from her 2017 best seller, collects horrors, as though cataloging everything awful that could happen to a woman. — Judy Berman, Time, 11 Nov. 2026

Taiwanese productions were more closely associated with everyday life, family relationships and romance, while foreign productions showed greater strength in action, fantasy and suspense. — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026

The only suspense in the district is whether Springtown (4-5, 3-3) can take care of Irving Ranchview (4-5, 2-4) for the final playoff berth. — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, in the phrase in suspence "in abeyance, in a state of uncertainty," borrowed from Anglo-French en suspens, borrowed from Medieval Latin in suspensō, from ablative of Latin suspensus or suspensum, noun derivative from past participle of suspendere "to suspend"

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing suspense

• in suspense
• suspense account
• the suspense is killing me

Rhymes for suspense

• commence
• condense
• defence
• defense
• dispense
• expense
• fourpence
• halfpence
• immense
• incense
• intense
• missense

Kids Definition

suspense

noun

sus·​pense sə-ˈspen(t)s 

1

: the state of being suspended : suspension

2

a

: mental uncertainty : anxiety

b

: pleasant excitement caused by wondering what will happen

a novel of suspense

3

: the state of being undecided

suspenseful

-fəl 

adjective