Suspend
/səˈspend/
Definitions
4 meaningsTo temporarily prevent from continuing or being in force or effect.
/səˈspend/
To officially stop something temporarily.
The school suspended the student for a week.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're playing a game, and the rules say you have to stop playing for a little while. Suspend is like that; it means to pause or stop something for a period of time.
👶 For kids: To stop something for a little while, like when you stop playing a game.
More Examples
The referee suspended the game due to rain.
The company decided to suspend all activities for the holiday season.
How It's Used
"The judge suspended the driver's license after the DUI."
"The student was suspended from school for fighting."
"The company suspended operations due to the storm."
To officially forbid someone from holding a particular position or performing a particular duty, often as a punishment.
/səˈspend/
To officially remove someone from a position.
The teacher suspended the student for disruptive behavior.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, if someone does something wrong at work or school, they might be 'suspended.' This means they have to take a break from their job or school for a while, usually as a punishment.
👶 For kids: To tell someone they can't go to school or do their job for a little while because they did something wrong.
More Examples
The company suspended the executive following the investigation.
The board decided to suspend the CEO from his position.
How It's Used
"The employee was suspended for misconduct."
"The legislator was suspended from the parliament."
To hang (something) so that it hangs freely.
/səˈspend/
To hang something from above.
The artist suspended the sculpture from the ceiling.
💡 Simply: Imagine you're hanging a toy from a string. Suspend means to hold something up in the air, like a decoration.
👶 For kids: To hang something from up high, like a balloon.
More Examples
The engineers suspended the platform from the crane.
Particles can be suspended in a liquid for observation.
How It's Used
"They suspended the bridge cables from the towers."
"The experiment suspended particles in a solution."
To cause or allow to be held in a fluid (such as a liquid) or in the air; to hang (something) so that it hangs freely.
/səˈspend/
To hold something up, or to prevent it from settling
The scientists needed to suspend the pigment in the solvent to study its properties.
💡 Simply: To hold something up, or to prevent it from settling, like when mixing paint.
👶 For kids: To stop something from falling down, like when you are hanging on monkey bars.
More Examples
They suspended the particles in the solution using a centrifuge.
The suspension of the particles in the air was crucial for the experiment.
How It's Used
"The chemists suspended the pigment in the water."
Synonyms
Defer
Delay
Halt
Interrupt
Postpone
Bar
Dismiss
Exclude
Remove
Hang
Float
Hold
Prop
Antonyms
Continue
Reinstate
Resume
Appoint
Hire
Ground
Lower
Place
Fall
Idioms & expressions
suspend disbelief
To temporarily accept something as true, even if it seems unlikely or impossible, especially in order to enjoy a story or performance.
"To enjoy the movie, you have to suspend disbelief and accept that the superheroes can fly."
From Latin *suspendere* meaning 'to hang up, delay', from *sub-* 'up' + *pendere* 'to hang'.
The word 'suspend' has been used since the 14th century and originally related to 'hanging' or 'holding up'.
Memory tip
Think of a swing. When you suspend a swing, you stop it mid-air.
Practice
Word Origin
Root: sub- (up) + pendere (to hang)