# abeyance

/əˈbeɪəns/ (US) · /ɐbˈeɪəns/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/abeyance
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. temporary suspension

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a state where a plan, rule, or activity is stopped for a short time.

For teachers: a state of temporary disuse or suspension; often used with the preposition 'in'.

- The project was held in abeyance until the company secured more funding.
- Legal proceedings were held in abeyance pending the outcome of the supreme court's ruling on a related constitutional matter.

Usage: Commonly appears in the fixed phrase 'in abeyance'.

### 2. undetermined ownership

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

a situation where it is not yet clear who owns a piece of land or a special title.

For teachers: a condition in which the ownership of real property or a title is undetermined or has no current owner.

- The noble title fell into abeyance because there were no clear heirs to claim it.
- Upon the death of the last earl without a direct descendant, the estate remained in abeyance while the courts vetted distant relatives.

Usage: Typically used as an uncountable noun in this legal sense.

## Examples

- The court placed the case in abeyance until the new evidence arrived.
- The company kept the patent in abeyance while they waited for the government to approve the new regulations.
- The legal dispute remained in abeyance for several years as the parties sought a more amicable resolution through private mediation rather than a public trial.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.