suspend
gb/səspˈɛnd/ us/səspˈɛnd/
B1
English
~ 3800
Senses
0 senses
Verb
B1
action
1
Temporarily stop an activity
To stop something for a short time and plan to start it again later.
Usage pattern:
to suspend [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'suspend' with 'cancel'. 'Suspend' means the activity will probably continue later, while 'cancel' means it will not happen at all.
Synonyms
pause (Implies a short break, often less formal or official than 'suspend'.)
|
halt (A stronger or more abrupt stop than 'suspend', may not imply resumption.)
Antonyms
resume (Means to start something again after it has been stopped.)
Collocations
suspend operations
|suspend service
|suspend payment
|suspend production
Themes
business
|law
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|work
Examples
- The company decided to suspend operations during the investigation.
- The school suspended classes due to heavy snow.
- Flights were suspended because of the storm.
- The government suspended the program until further notice.
Learner examples
- The school will suspend classes tomorrow.
- The bus service is suspended today.
- They suspended the game because of rain.
Verb
B1
action
2
Temporarily ban a person
To officially not allow someone to work or go to school for a short time.
Usage pattern:
to suspend [someone] from [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'suspend' with 'fire'. 'Fire' means to permanently remove someone from their job; 'suspend' is temporary.
Synonyms
bar (Often used in sports or law; can be permanent or temporary.)
|
discipline (General term for taking action against someone's behavior; not always temporary removal.)
Antonyms
reinstate (Means to return someone to their previous position or status after suspension.)
Collocations
suspend a player
|suspend an employee
|suspend a student
Themes
law
|education
|sports
|work
Examples
- The football player was suspended for three matches.
- She was suspended from school for two days.
- The airline suspended the pilot pending an investigation.
Learner examples
- He was suspended from school for fighting.
- The team suspended the coach for one game.
- She was suspended from her job for a week.
Verb
B2
action
3
Hang from above
To hang something from above so it can move freely.
Usage pattern:
to suspend [something] from [something]
Synonyms
hang (More general term; 'suspend' can sound more formal or technical.)
Antonyms
lower (Means to bring something down instead of keeping it hanging.)
Collocations
suspend a light
|suspend a sign
|suspend a bridge
Themes
construction
|daily life
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- A chandelier was suspended from the ceiling.
- The bridge's deck is suspended by steel cables.
- They suspended the banner over the street.
Learner examples
- A lamp is suspended from the ceiling.
- The sign is suspended over the door.
- The bridge is suspended by cables.
Verb
technical
C1
action
4
Keep particles floating in fluid
To keep small pieces of something mixed in water or air so they do not fall to the bottom.
Synonyms
disperse (Focuses on spreading particles out; not necessarily keeping them suspended long-term.)
Antonyms
settle (Means particles sink to the bottom of a liquid or gas.)
Collocations
suspend particles
|suspend sediment
Themes
science
|chemistry
Examples
- The medicine contains tiny particles suspended in liquid.
- Dust was suspended in the air after the explosion.
- Oil droplets are suspended in the salad dressing.
Learner examples
- Dust was suspended in the air.
- The powder is suspended in water.
- Small pieces are suspended in the drink.
Grammar
Dictionary form
suspend
IPA
GB/səspˈɛnd/
US/səspˈɛnd/
Syllables & stress
sus - pend (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pend)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: suspend
- 3rd Person Singular: suspends
- Present Participle: suspending
- Past: suspended
Word family
Forms
suspends
verb
suspending
verb
suspended
verb
Core family
suspension
noun B2
Related words
suspense
noun B2
suspenseful
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unsuspend
verb
Expressions
suspend disbelief
1/səspˈɛnd dˌɪsbɪlˈif/
fixed phrase
Accept unreal things for enjoyment
To pretend something is real so you can enjoy a story or movie.
Examples
- The movie was so exciting that I could easily suspend disbelief.
- Reading fantasy requires you to suspend disbelief.
suspend judgment
1/səspˈɛnd d͡ʒˈʌd͡ʒmənt/
fixed phrase
formal
Delay making a judgment
To wait before deciding what you think about something.
Examples
- I will suspend judgment until I hear both sides of the story.
- She chose to suspend judgment until more evidence was presented.