suspend

UK: /səˈspɛnd/ US: /səˈspɛnd/ ,(sə spend′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

sus•pend /səˈspɛnd/   v. [~ + object]

1. to hang by attachment to something above, esp. so as to allow free movement;
   dangle:
   Suspend the swing from the tree branch.
2. to keep from falling or sinking, as if by hanging:
   to suspend particles in a liquid.
3. to keep undecided:
   I'll suspend judgment until all the facts are in.
4. to put off, defer, or bring to a stop:
   to suspend a sentence for a misdemeanor.
5. to bring to a stop, usually for a time:
   He suspended payments on the car until it was fixed.
6. to remove (someone) from membership in or prevent (someone) from attending, usually for a limited time, a job, school, club, etc., esp. as a punishment:
   suspended from school for drinking on school property.

See -pend-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

sus•pend  (sə spend′), v.t. 

1. to hang by attachment to something above:
   to suspend a chandelier from the ceiling.
2. to attach so as to allow free movement:
   to suspend a door on a hinge.
3. to keep from falling, sinking, forming a deposit, etc., as if by hanging:
   to suspend solid particles in a liquid.
4. to hold or keep undetermined;
   refrain from forming or concluding definitely:
   to suspend one's judgment.
5. to defer or postpone:
   to suspend sentence on a convicted person.
6. to cause to cease or bring to a stop or stay, usually for a time:
   to suspend payment.
7. to cause to cease for a time from operation or effect, as a law, rule, privilege, service, or the like:
   to suspend ferry service.
8. to debar, usually for a limited time, from the exercise of an office or function or the enjoyment of a privilege:
   The student was suspended from school.
9. to keep in a mood or feeling of expectation or incompleteness;
   keep waiting in suspense:
   Finish the story; don't suspend us in midair.
10. Music and Dance to prolong (a note or tone) into the next chord.

v.i. 

11. to come to a stop, usually temporarily;
    cease from operation for a time.
12. to stop payment;
    be unable to meet financial obligations.
13. to hang or be suspended, as from another object:
    The chandelier suspends from the ceiling.
14. to be suspended, as in a liquid, gas, etc.

• Latin suspendere to hang up, equivalent. to sus- sus- + pendere (transitive) to hang (see pend, suspense)
• Middle English suspenden 1250–1300

sus•pend′i•ble, adj. 
sus•pend′i•bil′i•ty, n. 
Synonyms

• 6. hold up, intermit. See interrupt. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

suspend / səˈspɛnd/ verb

1. (transitive) to hang from above so as to permit free movement
2. (tr; passive) to cause to remain floating or hanging: a cloud of smoke was suspended over the town
3. (transitive) to render inoperative or cause to cease, esp temporarily
4. (transitive) to hold in abeyance; postpone action on
5. (transitive) to debar temporarily from privilege, office, etc, as a punishment
6. (transitive) to cause (particles) to be held in suspension in a fluid
7. (transitive) to continue (a note) until the next chord is sounded, with which it usually forms a dissonance
   See suspension11
8. (intransitive) to cease payment, as from incapacity to meet financial obligations

Etymology: 13th Century: from Latin suspendere from sub- + pendere to hang

susˈpendible, susˈpensible adjective

susˌpendiˈbility, susˌpensiˈbility noun