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English

suspension

gb/səspˈɛnʃən/ us/səspˈɛnʃən/
B2 English
~ 5100
Senses
0 senses
Noun B2 event
1

temporary stopping of activity

A time when something is stopped for a while but may start again later.

Usage pattern: the suspension of [activity/service/rule]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "suspension" with "suspense". "Suspension" is about stopping something for a time, while "suspense" is the feeling of not knowing what will happen next. Also, use "suspension of [something]", not "suspension for [something]" in this sense.
Synonyms
interruption (Emphasizes a break in continuity; may be shorter or less formal than a suspension.) | halt (Stronger and often more sudden than suspension; can be permanent or temporary.)
Antonyms
continuation (Emphasizes that an activity keeps going without being stopped.) | resumption (Refers to the act of starting again after a suspension or break.)
Collocations
temporary suspension |suspension of services |suspension of operations |suspension of flights |suspension of payments |in suspension until further notice
Themes
law |business |daily life |core_vocabulary
Examples
  • The airline announced the suspension of all flights due to the storm.
  • Talks ended in the temporary suspension of the peace negotiations.
  • The company ordered a suspension of production until the safety issues are fixed.
  • Following the scandal, there was a suspension of funding for the project.
  • The city has declared a suspension of parking rules during the holiday weekend.
Learner examples
  • There was a suspension of classes because of the heavy snow.
  • We are worried about the suspension of bus service in our area.
  • The suspension of the rule will last for one month.
  • After the accident, there was a short suspension of all train travel.
  • The suspension of the game made the fans very angry.
Noun B2 action
2

temporary removal as punishment

A time when someone cannot go to school, work, or a team for a short time because they did something wrong.

Usage pattern: the suspension of [someone] from [school/job/team]
Common mistake:
Learners often say "He was in suspension" instead of "He was on suspension". Use the preposition "on" to describe someone’s status ("on suspension"). Use "from" to show where they are suspended from ("suspension from school").
Synonyms
ban (Stronger and often longer or permanent; may mean someone is never allowed back.) | disciplinary action (Broader; may include suspension but also other forms of punishment.)
Antonyms
reinstatement (Refers to officially allowing someone to return after being suspended or removed.) | clearance (Suggests that someone is found not guilty or is allowed to continue without punishment.)
Collocations
school suspension |on suspension |face suspension |impose a suspension |10-day suspension |driver's license suspension
Themes
education |work |law
Examples
  • The player received a three-game suspension for violent conduct.
  • After the investigation, the officer was placed on paid suspension.
  • The school issued a one-week suspension for repeated bullying.
  • He is appealing his suspension from the professional association.
  • Driving under the influence can lead to the suspension of your license.
Learner examples
  • The student got a two-day suspension for fighting.
  • She was on suspension and could not go to work.
  • His suspension from the team will end next month.
  • They warned him that another mistake could mean suspension.
  • The judge ordered the suspension of his driving license.
Noun B2 entity
3

vehicle system absorbing shocks

The parts of a car, bike, or other vehicle that make the ride smoother by softening bumps in the road.

Usage pattern: [vehicle] has [adjective] suspension
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "suspension" with "shock absorber". The suspension is the whole system of parts; shock absorbers are just one part of that system.
Synonyms
shock absorbers (Refers specifically to one part of the suspension system, not the whole system.)
Antonyms
rigid axle (Describes a type of vehicle setup with less flexible movement compared to more advanced suspension systems.)
Collocations
front suspension |rear suspension |suspension system |independent suspension |soft suspension |stiff suspension
Themes
transport |technology |transportation
Examples
  • The car's soft suspension makes it very comfortable on long journeys.
  • Off-road vehicles usually have stronger suspension to handle rough terrain.
  • You should check the suspension if the car feels unstable when turning.
  • The new model comes with an upgraded suspension system for better handling.
  • A damaged suspension can cause uneven tire wear and poor control.
Learner examples
  • This bike has very good suspension for mountain roads.
  • The car's suspension is broken, so the ride is very hard.
  • They changed the suspension to make the car feel sportier.
  • A strong suspension is important for driving on bad roads.
  • He bought a truck with heavy-duty suspension.
Noun technical C1 entity
4

mixture of particles in fluid

A liquid or gas with tiny solid pieces mixed through it that do not dissolve and can slowly fall to the bottom.

Usage pattern: [substance] forms a suspension in [liquid]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes call any cloudy liquid a "solution". In science, use "suspension" when the solid does not dissolve and can settle, and "solution" when it dissolves completely.
Synonyms
dispersion (A broader technical term; not all dispersions are suspensions in the strict chemical sense.)
Antonyms
solution (In a solution the particles are dissolved and do not separate, unlike in a suspension.)
Collocations
in suspension |aqueous suspension |drug suspension |fine particle suspension |colloidal suspension |suspension of solids
Themes
science |chemistry |medicine
Examples
  • The medicine is supplied as an oral suspension that must be shaken before use.
  • Sand in water is a simple example of a suspension.
  • The lab measured how long the particles remained in suspension.
  • This paint is a suspension of pigment in oil.
  • The study focused on the stability of the particle suspension under different temperatures.
Learner examples
  • Shake the bottle to mix the suspension before you drink it.
  • Mud in water is a suspension, not a clear liquid.
  • The small pieces stay in suspension for a short time.
  • In this experiment, we made a suspension of chalk in water.
  • The doctor gave the child an antibiotic suspension.
Noun C1 state
5

state of being hung from above

The state of something hanging from above, not resting on the ground.

Usage pattern: the suspension of [object] from [support]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this sense is different from the punishment or "temporary stopping" meanings. Here, "suspension" is about physical hanging, often in technical or design contexts.
Synonyms
hanging (More general and everyday; does not suggest any technical or structural idea.)
Antonyms
support (Refers to holding something up from below rather than letting it hang from above.)
Collocations
suspension from a cable |suspension point |suspension system |in suspension above the ground |suspension by wires
Themes
construction |physics |core_vocabulary
Examples
  • The design relies on the suspension of the platform from steel cables.
  • The chandelier's suspension from the high ceiling makes it a focal point of the room.
  • Engineers tested the suspension of the walkway under heavy loads.
  • The art installation features the suspension of large metal shapes in mid-air.
  • The entire structure is held in place by the suspension of its main beam.
Learner examples
  • The lamp’s suspension from the ceiling looks very simple.
  • The bridge uses the suspension of a road deck by strong cables.
  • We checked the suspension of the sign to be sure it was safe.
  • The ball’s suspension in the air was created with thin wires.
  • The fan broke because its suspension from the ceiling was weak.
Noun technical C2 entity
6

held note creating dissonance

In music, a note that continues from one chord into the next and sounds wrong for a moment before it moves to a note that fits.

Usage pattern: a suspension over [chord]
Common mistake:
Non-musicians may confuse this with the everyday meanings of "suspension". In music, it is a very specific technical term, not a general "pause" or "stop".
Synonyms
non-chord tone (A broader music-theory term; a suspension is one specific type of non-chord tone.)
Antonyms
resolution (In music theory, the movement from the dissonant suspension to a consonant note that fits the chord.)
Collocations
prepare a suspension |resolve the suspension |unresolved suspension |harmonic suspension |vocal suspension
Themes
music |arts |arts_entertainment
Examples
  • The composer uses a long suspension in the soprano line to build tension.
  • You should resolve that suspension down by step in the next measure.
  • This hymn features a classic fourth-to-third suspension over the dominant chord.
Learner examples
  • In this piece, we can hear a clear suspension before the final chord.
  • The teacher showed us how a suspension must move to a new note.
  • The suspension makes the music feel tense until it resolves.
  • Many choral songs use suspension to create a sweet sound.
  • The student wrote a melody with a suspension over the last chord.
Grammar
Dictionary form
suspension
IPA
GB/səspˈɛnʃən/
US/səspˈɛnʃən/
Syllables & stress
sus - pen - sion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (pen)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: suspension
  • Plural: suspension, suspensions
Word family
Forms
suspensions noun
Core family
suspend verb B1
Related words
suspense noun B2 suspenseful adjective
Expressions

be on suspension

1
/bˈi ˈɔn səspˈɛnʃən/
fixed phrase

be temporarily removed as punishment

To be in a period when you are not allowed to go to school, work, or a team because you did something wrong.

Examples
  • The teacher is currently on suspension while the school investigates the complaint.
  • He was on suspension for a week after the fight.
  • Two employees are on suspension for breaking company rules.

in suspension

1
/ˈɪn səspˈɛnʃən/
fixed phrase technical

particles spread through a fluid

Used to say that tiny solid pieces are mixed through a liquid or gas and have not fallen to the bottom yet.

Examples
  • The sediment remains in suspension until the water is left to stand.
  • These drugs are more stable when the particles are kept in suspension.
  • The engineer measured how long the dust stayed in suspension in the air.

suspension bridge

1
/səspˈɛnʃən bɹˈɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase

bridge with roadway hanging from cables

A type of bridge where the road is hung from long cables that are held up by tall towers.

Examples
  • The city is famous for its historic suspension bridge across the river.
  • Engineers chose a suspension bridge design to span the wide bay.
  • We walked across the old suspension bridge that shook slightly in the wind.

suspension of disbelief

1
/səspˈɛnʃən əv dˌɪsbɪlˈif/
fixed phrase

choosing to accept fiction as real

The decision to forget that a film, book, or show is not real so that you can enjoy the story.

Examples
  • Science-fiction movies require a certain suspension of disbelief from the audience.
  • The special effects were so poor that they ruined my suspension of disbelief.
  • Good acting helps viewers maintain their suspension of disbelief.
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