suspend

[suh-spend]

verb (used with object)

1. to hang by attachment to something above.

   to suspend a chandelier from the ceiling.

2. to attach so as to allow free movement.

   to suspend a door on a hinge.

3. to keep from falling, sinking, forming a deposit, etc., as if by hanging.

   to suspend solid particles in a liquid.

4. to hold or keep undetermined; refrain from forming or concluding definitely.

   to suspend one's judgment.

5. to defer or postpone.

   to suspend sentence on a convicted person.

6. to cause to cease or bring to a stop or stay, usually for a time.

   to suspend payment.

   Synonyms: discontinue, intermit

7. to cause to cease for a time from operation or effect, as a law, rule, privilege, service, or the like.

   to suspend ferry service.

8. to debar, usually for a limited time, from the exercise of an office or function or the enjoyment of a privilege.

   The student was suspended from school.

9. to keep in a mood or feeling of expectation or incompleteness; keep waiting in suspense.

   Finish the story; don't suspend us in midair.

10. Music.,  to prolong (a note or tone) into the next chord.

verb (used without object)

1. to come to a stop, usually temporarily; cease from operation for a time.

2. to stop payment; be unable to meet financial obligations.

3. to hang or be suspended, as from another object.

   The chandelier suspends from the ceiling.

4. to be suspended, as in a liquid, gas, etc.

suspend

/ səˈspɛnd /

verb

1. (tr) to hang from above so as to permit free movement

2. (tr; passive) to cause to remain floating or hanging

   a cloud of smoke was suspended over the town

3. (tr) to render inoperative or cause to cease, esp temporarily

   to suspend interest payments

4. (tr) to hold in abeyance; postpone action on

   to suspend a decision

5. (tr) to debar temporarily from privilege, office, etc, as a punishment

6. (tr) chem to cause (particles) to be held in suspension in a fluid

7. (tr) music to continue (a note) until the next chord is sounded, with which it usually forms a dissonance See suspension

8. (intr) to cease payment, as from incapacity to meet financial obligations

9. obsolete,  (tr) to put or keep in a state of anxiety or wonder

10. obsolete,  (intr) to be attached from above

Other Word Forms

• suspendible adjective
• suspendibility noun
• presuspend verb (used with object)
• resuspend verb
• unsuspendible adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of suspend¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English suspenden, from Latin suspendere “to hang up,” equivalent to sus- sus- + pendere (transitive) “to hang” ( pend, suspense )

Word History and Origins

Origin of suspend¹

C13: from Latin suspendere from _sub- + pendere to hang

Synonym Study

See interrupt.

Example Sentences

A Belgian court case brought by a farmer seeking compensation from oil giant TotalEnergies for damage caused by climate change was suspended after the judging panel recused itself, both parties said Tuesday.

Read more on Barron's

The move rattled markets and snarled supply chains until China later said it would suspend its curbs for one year.

Read more on Barron's

Several airlines suspended their flights to Venezuela after the US aviation regulator warned on Friday of "heightened military activity" in the area.

Read more on BBC

Formerly strong U.S. allies, including the UK, Colombia and the Netherlands, have either refused or suspended intelligence sharing with the U.S. because of the illegal strikes.

Read more on Salon

Students and lecturers held a protest over the potential future of modern languages courses after a university suspended entry for new students.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• adjourn 
• arrest 
• bar 
• cease 
• defer 
• discontinue 
• eject 
• exclude 
• file 
• halt 
• interrupt 
• postpone 
• put off 
• reject 
• rule out 
• shelve 
• stay 
• waive 
• withhold 

When To Use

What does suspend mean?

Suspend most commonly means to cause to stop, to bring to a stop, to withhold, or to postpone, as in The bank has suspended payments or All activities have been suspended until further notice.It also commonly means to hang something by attaching it to something else, especially with ropes or cables, as in We need to suspend the banner from the ceiling. More specifically, suspend can mean to officially punish someone, such as an employee, student, or athlete, so that they are not allowed to participate in an activity for a certain period of time, as in He was suspended for five games for fighting. A person punished in this way is said to be suspended.The noun form suspension can be used for most senses of suspend to refer to an instance or the process of suspending.