suspense

[suh-spens]

noun

1. a state or condition of mental uncertainty or excitement, as in awaiting a decision or outcome, usually accompanied by a degree of apprehension or anxiety.

2. a state of mental indecision.

3. undecided or doubtful condition, as of affairs.

   For a few days matters hung in suspense.

4. the state or condition of being suspended.

suspense

/ səˈspɛns /

noun

1. the condition of being insecure or uncertain

   the matter of the succession remained in suspense for many years

2. mental uncertainty; anxiety

   their father's illness kept them in a state of suspense

3. excitement felt at the approach of the climax

   a play of terrifying suspense

4. the condition of being suspended

Other Word Forms

• suspenseful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of suspense¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin suspēnsum deferment, suspension, uncertainty, noun use of neuter of Latin suspēnsus hung up, doubtful, in suspense (past participle of suspendere to hang up, leave undecided), equivalent to sus- sus- + pēnsus ( pend-, stem of pendere (translation) to hang ( pend ) + -tus past participle suffix, with dt > s )

Word History and Origins

Origin of suspense¹

C15: from Medieval Latin suspensum delay, from Latin suspendere to hang up; see _suspend

Example Sentences

And the associations with danger—and suspense, anxiety, anticipation and adrenaline, he says—are even more likely to slow, if not cure, the breakdown of brain functions caused by the disease.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Besides romance and action, the actor also delivered hits that were suspense thrillers and comedies.

Read more on BBC

Her tales defy easy categorization—suspense shockers? ghost stories? horror sketches?—even as they insinuate themselves into our souls.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

“I will keep you in suspense no longer. The subject of my speech is ferns. Ferns!” she repeated, raising one hand in the air as if she were addressing the Roman Senate.

Read more on Literature

Neither is especially surprising — “in their beginning is their end,” to switch up a line of Eliot — though they do provide some suspense and twists along the way.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anxiety 
• apprehension 
• confusion 
• doubt 
• insecurity 
• tension 
• thriller 
• uncertainty