Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense suspends, present participle suspending, past tense, past participle suspended
1. verb
If you suspend something, you delay it or stop it from happening for a while or until a decision is made about it.
The union suspended strike action this week. [VERB noun]
Aid programs will be suspended until there's adequate protection for relief convoys. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: postpone, delay, put off, arrest More Synonyms of suspend
2. verb
If someone is suspended, they are prevented from holding a particular job or position for a fixed length of time or until a decision is made about them.
Julie was suspended from her job shortly after the incident. [beVERB-ed]
Buchanan was suspended for a year from Georgetown University after brawling withpolice. [beVERB-ed]
The Lawn Tennis Association suspended him from the British team. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: remove, expel, eject, debar More Synonyms of suspend
3. verb [usually passive]
If something is suspended from a high place, it is hanging from that place.
...a mobile of birds or nursery rhyme characters which could be suspended over thecot. [beVERB-ed]
...chandeliers suspended on heavy chains from the ceiling. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: hang, attach, dangle, swing More Synonyms of suspend
suspend in British English
(səˈspɛnd)
verb
1. (transitive)
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. (transitive)
to render inoperative or cause to cease, esp temporarily
to suspend interest payments
4. (transitive)
to hold in abeyance; postpone action on
to suspend a decision
5. (transitive)
to debar temporarily from privilege, office, etc, as a punishment
6. (transitive) chemistry
to cause (particles) to be held in suspension in a fluid
7. (transitive) music
to continue (a note) until the next chord is sounded, with which it usually forms a dissonance
suspension (sense 11)
8. (intransitive)
to cease payment, as from incapacity to meet financial obligations
9. (transitive) obsolete
to put or keep in a state of anxiety or wonder
10. (intransitive) obsolete
to be attached from above
Derived forms
suspendible (susˈpendible) or suspensible (susˈpensible)
adjective
suspendibility (susˌpendiˈbility)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Latin suspendere from sub- + pendere to hang
suspend in American English
(səˈspɛnd)
verb transitive
1.
to bar or exclude as a penalty from an office, school, position, etc., usually for a specified time; debar
2.
to cause to cease or become inoperative for a time; stop temporarily
to suspend train service, to suspend a rule
3.
a.
to defer or hold back (judgment), as until more is known
b.
to hold in abeyance or defer action on (a sentence, etc.)
4.
to hang by a support from above so as to allow free movement
5.
to hold or keep (dust in the air, particles in a liquid, etc.) in suspension
6. Rare
to keep in suspense, wonder, etc.
7. Music
to continue (a note) into the following chord
verb intransitive
8.
to stop temporarily
9.
to withhold payment of debts or obligations, as through inability to pay
SIMILAR WORDS: adˈjourn, exˈclude
Word origin
ME suspenden < OFr suspendre < L suspendere, to hang up < sus-, for sub-, sub- + pendere, to hang: see pend
Examples of 'suspend' in a sentence
suspend
It has been declared safe after interim work to build a protection deck underneath its suspended ceiling.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The mindfulness vibe seems to have been temporarily suspended.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Two local officials have been suspended for allowing the building to be constructed.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Six were allowed to continue flying while one was temporarily suspended.
The Sun (2010)
The other is the jail official who was suspended after my interview.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Her clothes are suspended from the ceiling to save space.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Six officials are already suspended on bribery claims.
The Sun (2010)
He said that four health officials had been suspended and an investigation was under way.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Haringey has suspended an official over the mislaid dossier and is carrying out a probe.
The Sun (2009)
Four other unidentified officials have been suspended while investigations continue into their conduct.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Many banks had been big dividend payers and since then most have either reduced or temporarily suspended their dividend payments.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He is held up by a harness suspended from the ceiling and has to walk along a set of parallel bars.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She was found guilty of this in June and suspended from office.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Entry negotiations have been temporarily suspended after Britain blocked an early phase of the talks on education.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
What you do is, you lie in a hammock suspended from the ceiling.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She has been suspended from office and her impeachment trial is set to take place during the Olympics.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A fire engine and two support vehicles were scrambled and trains to the airport were temporarily suspended.
The Sun (2013)
Services have been suspended temporarily.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Bitter experience gives us little cause for hope, and it is time we considered suspending aid until some vital questions are answered.
The Sun (2007)
The Englishman was one of only five players to complete two rounds after high winds suspended play on Thursday.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
A member of the Met's territorial support group has been suspended while the incident is being probed.
The Sun (2009)
In other languages
suspend
British English: suspend /səˈspɛnd/ VERB
If you suspend something, you delay or stop it for a while.
The union suspended strike action this week.
American English: suspend
Arabic: يُرْجِئُ
Brazilian Portuguese: suspender
Chinese: 暂停
Croatian: odgoditi
Czech: pozastavit přerušit
Danish: indstille
Dutch: opschorten
European Spanish: suspender suprimir
Finnish: ripustaa
French: suspendre
German: aufhängen
Greek: αναστέλλω
Italian: sospendere
Japanese: つるす
Korean: 매달다
Norwegian: innstille
Polish: zawiesić
European Portuguese: suspender
Romanian: a amâna
Russian: подвешивать
Latin American Spanish: suspender
Swedish: skjuta upp
Thai: ระงับชั่วคราว
Turkish: askıya almak
Ukrainian: тимчасово припиняти
Vietnamese: trì hoãn
Chinese translation of 'suspend'
suspend
(səsˈpɛnd)
vt
(= hang) 悬(懸)挂(掛) (xuánguà)
(= delay, stop) 暂(暫)停 (zàntíng)
(from employment) 暂(暫)令停职(職) (zànlìng tíngzhí)
1 (verb)
Definition
to cause (something) to stop temporarily
The union suspended strike action this week.
Synonyms
postpone
He decided to postpone the expedition.
delay
I delayed my departure until she could join me.
put off
arrest
The new rules could arrest the development of good research.
cease
A small number of firms have ceased trading.
interrupt
We interrupted our holiday to return to London.
shelve
Sadly, the project has now been shelved.
withhold
defer
Customers often defer payment for as long as possible.
adjourn
The proceedings have been adjourned until next week.
hold off
The hospital staff held off taking him in for an X-ray.
cut short
discontinue
Do not discontinue the treatment without consulting your doctor.
lay aside
put in cold storage
Opposites
continue
,
carry on
,
resume
,
re-establish
2 (verb)
Definition
to remove (someone) temporarily from a job or position, usually as a punishment
Julie was suspended from her job shortly after the incident.
Synonyms
remove
The senate voted to remove him.
expel
Poisonous gas is expelled into the atmosphere.
eject
She was ejected from her first job for persistent latecoming.
debar
Opposites
restore
,
reinstate
3 (verb)
Definition
to cause (something) to remain floating or hanging
chandeliers suspended on heavy chains from the ceiling
Synonyms
hang
The button was hanging on by a thread.
attach
Attach labels to things before you file them away.
dangle
A gold bracelet dangled from her left wrist.
swing
Within moments of arriving, Jingo was climbing and swinging from a tyre.
append (formal)
His real name hadn't been appended to the manuscript.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adjourn
Definition
to postpone or be postponed temporarily
The proceedings have been adjourned until next week.
Synonyms
postpone,
delay,
suspend,
interrupt,
put off,
stay,
defer,
recess,
discontinue,
put on the back burner (informal),
prorogue,
take a rain check on (US, Canadian, informal)
in the sense of append
Definition
to add as a supplement
His real name hadn't been appended to the manuscript.
Synonyms
add,
attach,
join,
hang,
adjoin,
fasten,
annex,
tag on,
affix,
tack on,
subjoin
in the sense of arrest
Definition
to slow or stop the development of
The new rules could arrest the development of good research.
Synonyms
stop,
end,
hold,
limit,
check,
block,
slow,
delay,
halt,
stall,
stay,
interrupt,
suppress,
restrain,
hamper,
inhibit,
hinder,
obstruct,
retard,
impede
Synonyms of 'suspend'
suspend
Explore 'suspend' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of attach
Definition
to join, fasten, or connect
Attach labels to things before you file them away.
Synonyms
affix,
stick,
secure,
bind,
unite,
add,
join,
couple,
link,
tie,
fix,
connect,
lash,
glue,
adhere,
fasten,
annex,
truss,
yoke,
append (formal),
make fast,
cohere,
subjoin,
bootstrap to
in the sense of cease
Definition
to bring or come to an end
A small number of firms have ceased trading.
Synonyms
discontinue,
end,
stop,
fail,
finish,
give up,
conclude,
suspend,
halt,
terminate,
break off,
refrain,
leave off,
give over (informal),
bring to an end,
desist,
belay
in the sense of dangle
Definition
to hang loosely
A gold bracelet dangled from her left wrist.
Synonyms
hang,
swing,
trail,
sway,
flap,
hang down,
depend
in the sense of defer
Definition
to delay until a future time
Customers often defer payment for as long as possible.
Synonyms
postpone,
delay,
put off,
suspend,
shelve,
set aside,
adjourn,
hold over,
procrastinate,
put on ice (informal),
put on the back burner (informal),
protract,
take a rain check on (US, Canadian, informal),
prorogue
in the sense of delay
Definition
to put (something) off to a later time
I delayed my departure until she could join me.
Synonyms
put off,
suspend,
postpone,
stall,
shelve,
prolong,
defer,
hold over,
temporize,
put on the back burner (informal),
protract,
take a rain check on (US, Canadian, informal)
in the sense of discontinue
Definition
to come or bring to an end
Do not discontinue the treatment without consulting your doctor.
Synonyms
stop,
end,
finish,
drop,
kick (informal),
give up,
abandon,
suspend,
quit,
halt,
pause,
cease,
axe (informal),
interrupt,
terminate,
break off,
put an end to,
refrain from,
leave off,
pull the plug on,
belay
in the sense of eject
Definition
to compel (someone) to leave a place or position
She was ejected from her first job for persistent latecoming.
Synonyms
dismiss,
sack (informal),
fire (informal),
remove,
get rid of,
discharge,
expel,
throw out,
oust,
kick out (informal),
give (someone) their P45 (British, informal),
give (someone) their pink slip (US, informal),
kennet (Australian, slang),
jeff (Australian, slang)
in the sense of expel
Definition
to drive out with force
Poisonous gas is expelled into the atmosphere.
Synonyms
drive out,
discharge,
throw out,
force out,
let out,
eject,
issue,
dislodge,
spew,
belch,
cast out
in the sense of hold off
Definition
to put off (doing something)
The hospital staff held off taking him in for an X-ray.
Synonyms
put off,
delay,
postpone,
defer,
avoid,
refrain,
keep from
in the sense of interrupt
Definition
to stop (a process or activity) temporarily
We interrupted our holiday to return to London.
Synonyms
suspend,
break,
stop,
end,
cut,
stay,
check,
delay,
cease,
cut off,
postpone,
shelve,
put off,
defer,
break off,
adjourn,
cut short,
discontinue
Additional synonyms
in the sense of shelve
Definition
to put aside or postpone
Sadly, the project has now been shelved.
Synonyms
postpone,
put off,
defer,
table (US),
dismiss,
freeze,
suspend,
put aside,
hold over,
mothball,
pigeonhole,
lay aside,
put on ice,
put on the back burner (informal),
hold in abeyance,
take a rain check on (US, Canadian, informal)
in the sense of swing
Definition
to hang so as to be able to turn freely
Within moments of arriving, Jingo was climbing and swinging from a tyre.