First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
suspend
verb sus·pend \sə-ˈspend\
: to force (someone) to leave a job, position, or place for a usually short period of time as a form of punishment
: to stop (something) for a usually short period of time
: to make (something) happen later : to delay (something)
Full Definition of SUSPEND
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 (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
See suspend defined for English-language learners
See suspend defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of SUSPEND
Middle English, from Anglo-French suspendre, from Latin suspendere, from sub-, sus- up + pendere to cause to hang, weigh
Synonym Discussion of SUSPEND
defer, postpone, suspend, stay mean to delay an action or proceeding. defer implies a deliberate putting off to a later time <deferred buying a car until spring>. postpone implies an intentional deferring usually to a definite time <the game is postponed until Saturday>. suspend implies temporary stoppage with an added suggestion of waiting until some condition is satisfied <business will be suspended while repairs are under way>. stay often suggests the stopping or checking by an intervening agency or authority <the governor stayed the execution>.
Rhymes with SUSPEND
addend, amend, append, ascend, attend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, contend, dead end, dead-end, defend, depend, descend, distend, downtrend, emend, expend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, impend, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, offend, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, portend, pretend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, subtend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end
SUSPENDED Defined for Kids
suspend
verb sus·pend \sə-ˈspend\
sus·pend·edsus·pend·ing
Definition of SUSPEND for Kids
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.>
Word Root of SUSPEND
The Latin word pendere, meaning “to cause to hang down,” gives us the root pend. Words from the Latin pendere have something to do with hanging. To suspend is to cause something to hang down from a single point. To depend is to hang, or rely, on the support of others. A pendant is an ornament that hangs free, as on a necklace. A pendulum is an object hung from a point that swings freely back and forth, as in a clock.
Learn More About SUSPEND
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: suspended animationPrevious Word in the Dictionary: suspecterAll Words Near: suspend
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up suspend? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).