suspend
verb
sus·pend sə-ˈspend 
suspended; suspending; suspends
transitive verb
1
: to debar temporarily especially from a privilege, office, or function
suspend a student from school
2
a
: to cause to stop temporarily
suspend bus service
b
: to set aside or make temporarily inoperative
suspend the rules
3
: to defer to a later time on specified conditions
suspend sentence
4
: to hold in an undetermined or undecided state awaiting further information
suspend judgment
suspend disbelief
5
a
: hang
especially : to hang so as to be free on all sides except at the point of support
suspend a ball by a thread
b
: to keep from falling or sinking by some invisible support (such as buoyancy)
dust suspended in the air
c
: to put or hold in suspension
suspended sediment
6
a
: to keep fixed or lost (as in wonder or contemplation)
b
: to keep waiting in suspense or indecision
7
: to hold (a musical note) over into the following chord
intransitive verb
1
: to cease operation temporarily
2
: to stop payment or fail to meet obligations
3
: hang
Did you know?
When something is suspended, it is "left hanging;" it is neither in full operation nor permanently ended. Suspense is a state of uncertainty and maybe anxiety. When we watch a play or movie, we enjoy experiencing a "suspension of disbelief;" that is, we allow ourselves to believe we're watching reality, even though we aren't truly fooled.Suspension can also mean physical hanging; thus, in a suspension bridge, the roadway actually hangs from huge cables. When some substance is "in suspension", its particles are "hanging" in another substance, mixed into it but not actually dissolved, like fine sand in water, or sea spray in the air at the seashore.
Synonyms
- adjourn
- prorogate
- prorogue
- recess
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He was suspended from the team for missing too many practices. The police officers were suspended without pay for their conduct. The principal suspended the student from school for fighting. The city suspended bus service during the storm. The company was forced to suspend operations. They have suspended the peace talks. I advise suspending judgment until the investigation is over. Her license to practice law was suspended. We can suspend the rules just this once. He's driving with a suspended license. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Chongqing enacted an order for factories to suspend operations for seven days starting last Wednesday, according to state media. 
Shawn Deng, CNN, 23 Aug. 2022 Youngkin’s proposal to suspend the state gas tax for three months, an initiative that Democrats blocked in the state Senate. Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 27 July 2022 Biden is expected to call on Congress to suspend the federal gas tax, which amounts to roughly 18 cents of gasoline and 24 cents per gallon of diesel through the end of September. Rachel Scott, ABC News, 22 June 2022 Biden is expected on Wednesday to call on Congress to suspend U.S. gas and diesel taxes to reduce the sting of high fuel prices, which are averaging nearly $5 a gallon. Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2022 The Democratic president will also call on states to suspend their own gas taxes or provide similar relief, the White House said. Josh Boak, Anchorage Daily News, 22 June 2022 Biden will also call on states to suspend their own gas taxes or provide similar relief, the White House said. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 22 June 2022 That’s how much money is added to a gallon of gas due to the federal gas tax, which Biden will call to suspend amid price increases. Mark Murray, NBC News, 22 June 2022 Biden was expected on Wednesday to call on Congress to suspend U.S. gas and diesel taxes to reduce the sting of high fuel prices, which are averaging nearly $5 a gallon. Christopher Rugaber, USA TODAY, 22 June 2022 See More
Shawn Deng, CNN, 23 Aug. 2022 Youngkin’s proposal to suspend the state gas tax for three months, an initiative that Democrats blocked in the state Senate. Laura Vozzella, Washington Post, 27 July 2022 Biden is expected to call on Congress to suspend the federal gas tax, which amounts to roughly 18 cents of gasoline and 24 cents per gallon of diesel through the end of September. Rachel Scott, ABC News, 22 June 2022 Biden is expected on Wednesday to call on Congress to suspend U.S. gas and diesel taxes to reduce the sting of high fuel prices, which are averaging nearly $5 a gallon. Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 22 June 2022 The Democratic president will also call on states to suspend their own gas taxes or provide similar relief, the White House said. Josh Boak, Anchorage Daily News, 22 June 2022 Biden will also call on states to suspend their own gas taxes or provide similar relief, the White House said. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 22 June 2022 That’s how much money is added to a gallon of gas due to the federal gas tax, which Biden will call to suspend amid price increases. Mark Murray, NBC News, 22 June 2022 Biden was expected on Wednesday to call on Congress to suspend U.S. gas and diesel taxes to reduce the sting of high fuel prices, which are averaging nearly $5 a gallon. Christopher Rugaber, USA TODAY, 22 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French suspendre, from Latin suspendere, from sub-, sus- up + pendere to cause to hang, weigh
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing suspend
Kids Definition
suspend
verb
sus·pend sə-ˈspend
suspended; suspending
1
: to force to give up some right or office for a time
The cheater was suspended from school.
2
: to hang especially so as to be free except at one point
A light bulb was suspended from the ceiling.
3
: to stop or do away with for a time
The principal is suspending a rule.
4
: to stop operation or action for a time
All business suspended during the storm.
Legal Definition
suspend
transitive verb
sus·pend
1
: to debar temporarily from a privilege, office, or function
2
a
: to stop temporarily
suspend trading
b
: to make temporarily ineffective
suspend a license
c
: stay
suspend a hearing
d
: to defer until a later time see also suspended sentence at sentence
suspending
verb
1
as in postponing
to bring to a formal close for a period of time the judge suspended the hearing to give the district attorney more time to process evidence Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- postponing
- interrupting
- recessing
- adjourning
- proroguing
- deferring
- discontinuing
- reserving
- terminating
- revoking
- halting
- dispersing
- prorogating
- disbanding
- dissolving
- recalling
- stopping
- calling
- rescinding
- closing
- shelving
- annulling
- nullifying
- ending
- intermitting
- repealing
- concluding
- aborting
- tabling
- invalidating
- breaking off
- voiding
- abrogating
- negating
- quashing
- holding off
- putting off
- dropping
- winding up
- wrapping up
- calling off
- breaking up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- opening
- extending
- launching
- continuing
- prolonging
- inaugurating
- proceeding
- resuming
- renewing
- reopening
- calling
- assembling
- summoning
- convening
- rallying
- drawing out
- carrying on
- mustering
- convoking
2
as in hanging
to place on an elevated point without support from below suspended a banner proclaiming the town's "Heritage Days" from the archway Synonyms & Similar Words
- hanging
- dangling
- swinging
- slinging
- hooking
- mounting
- stringing
- pinning
- draping
- projecting
- tacking
- festooning
- protruding
- balancing
- jutting
- garlanding
- overhanging
- depending
- cascading
- sticking out
- falling
- poising
- extending (out)