suspect
gb/sˈʌspˌɛkt/ us/sˈʌspˌɛkt/
B1
English
~ 2300
gyanúsított, gyanúsít, gyanakszik, gyanít, sejt, gyanús, kétes
NOUN
B1
1
gyanúsított
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] is a suspect in [a case/crime]
The police have arrested a suspect in the robbery case.
A rendőrség őrizetbe vett egy gyanúsítottat a rablási ügyben.
She was the prime suspect after the evidence was found.
Ő lett az első számú gyanúsított, miután megtalálták a bizonyítékot.
Detectives questioned the suspect for several hours.
The suspect was seen leaving the building shortly after the incident.
Learner examples
The police caught the suspect.
A rendőrség elfogta a gyanúsítottat.
The suspect is in jail now.
A gyanúsított most őrizetben van.
They think he is the suspect.
The suspect did not talk to the police.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'suspect' (noun) with 'suspicious' (adjective). They might say 'He is suspicious for the crime' instead of 'He is a suspect in the crime.'
Meaning
Person thought to be guilty
Collocations
prime suspect
|murder suspect
|arrest a suspect
|question a suspect
Synonyms
accused (Often used formally in legal contexts for someone charged with a crime.)
Antonyms
witness (A person who saw the crime happen, not suspected of committing it.)
Themes
law
|crime
|justice
Definition
A person who the police think may have done a crime.
A person believed by the police or public to have committed a crime, but not yet proven guilty.
VERB
B1
2
gyanúsít
B2
gyanakszik
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] suspect[s] [someone] of [doing something]
I suspect him of lying about where he was last night.
Arra gyanakszom, hogy hazudott arról, hol volt tegnap este.
Police suspect her of being involved in the fraud.
A rendőrség azzal gyanúsítja, hogy részt vett a csalásban.
They began to suspect that he was hiding something.
I don't suspect you, but I need to ask some questions.
Learner examples
I suspect he took my pen.
Arra gyanakszom, hogy ő vitte el a tollamat.
The teacher suspects the boy of cheating.
A tanár arra gyanakszik, hogy a fiú csalt.
They suspect her of stealing money.
I do not suspect him.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes forget to use 'of' before the action: 'suspect him stealing' instead of 'suspect him of stealing'.
Meaning
Think someone did something wrong
Collocations
suspect strongly
|suspect wrongly
|suspect someone of theft
|begin to suspect
Synonyms
distrust (Implies lack of trust, not necessarily belief in guilt of a specific act.)
Antonyms
trust (To believe someone is honest and not guilty.)
Themes
law
|crime
|belief
Definition
To think that someone may have done something bad or illegal.
To believe, without certain proof, that someone has done something wrong or illegal.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
[someone] suspect[s] (that) [clause]
I suspect that she knows more than she is telling.
Gyanítom, hogy többet tud, mint amennyit elmond.
They suspected it would rain later that day.
Sejtették, hogy aznap később esni fog.
We suspected that he might be planning a surprise.
Learner examples
I suspect it will rain today.
Gyanítom, hogy ma esni fog.
She suspects that he is sick.
Azt gyanítja, hogy beteg.
They suspect the game will be canceled.
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'suspect' with 'expect'; 'expect' implies anticipation, while 'suspect' implies uncertainty and possibility.
Meaning
Think something might be true
Collocations
suspect the truth
|rightly suspect
|wrongly suspect
Synonyms
suppose (Suggests thinking something is true, often casually or without strong evidence.)
Antonyms
doubt (To think something may not be true.)
Themes
belief
|thinking
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To think that something is probably true, even if you are not sure.
To believe something is likely or possible, often without complete evidence.
B2
4
His story sounds a bit suspect to me.
A története nekem kissé gyanúsnak hangzik.
They bought some meat from a suspect source.
Kétes forrásból vettek húst.
The deal seemed suspect from the beginning.
Learner examples
This food looks suspect.
Ez az étel gyanúsan néz ki.
His answer is suspect.
Gyanús a válasza.
The man’s actions are suspect.
Common mistake:
Learners might confuse 'suspect' (adjective) with 'suspicious'; 'suspect' describes the thing itself as doubtful, 'suspicious' describes feelings about it or behavior that causes suspicion.
Meaning
Seeming dishonest or unsafe
Collocations
suspect behavior
|suspect motives
|look suspect
Synonyms
questionable (Implies doubt about honesty, safety, or quality.)
Antonyms
trustworthy (Seen as reliable and honest.)
Themes
judgment
|safety
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Looking like it may be bad, wrong, or not safe.
Seeming untrustworthy, dangerous, or of poor quality; questionable.
Grammar
Dictionary form
suspect
IPA
GB/sˈʌspˌɛkt/
US/sˈʌspˌɛkt/
Syllables & stress
sus - pect (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sus)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: suspect
Noun
- Base: suspect
- Plural: suspects
Verb
- Base: suspect
- 3rd Person Singular: suspects
- Present Participle: suspecting
- Past: suspected
Word family
Forms
suspects
noun
suspecting
verb
suspected
verb
Core family
suspicion
noun B1
suspicious
adjective B1
Related words
suspiciously
adverb B2
Negative and opposite forms
unsuspecting
adjective
unsuspected
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
suspiciousness
noun
Expressions
prime suspect
1/pɹˈaɪm sˈʌspˌɛkt/
fixed phrase
Main person thought guilty of crime
The person who police think most likely did the crime.
Examples
- He remains the prime suspect in the murder case.
- The police named her as their prime suspect.
benefit of the doubt
1/bˈɛnəfɪt əv ðə dˈaʊt/
fixed phrase
Believe good until proven wrong
To believe someone is telling the truth until there is proof they are not.
Examples
- I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt this time.
- I’ll give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she forgot to call.
- She got the benefit of the doubt because there was no clear evidence.
- He got the benefit of the doubt from his boss this time.
under suspicion
1/ˈʌndɚ səspˈɪʃən/
fixed phrase
thought to be guilty
People think you may have done something wrong.
Examples
- He has been under suspicion since the money disappeared.
- Two employees are under suspicion for leaking company secrets.
- The official is under suspicion for taking bribes.
- He has been under suspicion since the incident.