as in suspension
a state of temporary inactivity
our weekend plans were held in abeyance until we could get a weather forecast
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Recent Examples of abeyance
That threat was only held in abeyance by his signature; the commission needed to ratify it to fully spike the governor’s guns.
—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025
In the latest development, on June 27, 2025, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a supplementary award in favor of Pakistan, arguing that India’s holding of the treaty in abeyance did not affect its jurisdiction over the case.
—Pintu Kumar Mahla, The Conversation, 16 July 2025
The bar will close for 30 days, permanently surrender its 4 a.m. license, and pay a $10,000 fine, with an additional $31,000 held in abeyance.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 June 2025
As employment conditions and other economic variables have been held in abeyance during the trade reset, wage growth has been moderating, dropping to a 3.77 percent increase from 3.83 percent in March, off a recent high of 4.15 percent in November of last year.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for abeyance
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025
In the latest development, on June 27, 2025, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a supplementary award in favor of Pakistan, arguing that India’s holding of the treaty in abeyance did not affect its jurisdiction over the case.
—Pintu Kumar Mahla, The Conversation, 16 July 2025
The bar will close for 30 days, permanently surrender its 4 a.m. license, and pay a $10,000 fine, with an additional $31,000 held in abeyance.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 June 2025
As employment conditions and other economic variables have been held in abeyance during the trade reset, wage growth has been moderating, dropping to a 3.77 percent increase from 3.83 percent in March, off a recent high of 4.15 percent in November of last year.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for abeyance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abeyance
Noun
-
Scott compiled a 46–120 overall record and 15–84 mark in conference play before his suspension.—
Tobias Bass,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Still, Supermicro has had to battle back from a previous trading suspension from the Nasdaq stock exchange in 2018 and a panel decision to delist the stock.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This show doesn’t immediately reveal who killed whom, instead jumping back and forth in time to maintain the suspense.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Both seasons deliver slow-burn suspense and shifting perspectives.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abeyance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abeyance. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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