# suppress

/səˈpɹɛs/ (US) · /səpɹˈɛs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/suppress
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to stop by force

verb · CEFR B2

to end something by using force, like stopping a protest or a rebellion.

For teachers: to put an end to an activity or organization, typically through the use of authority or physical force.

- The government used the army to suppress the rebellion in the northern provinces.
- The authoritarian regime moved quickly to suppress the uprising, deploying riot police to clear the central square before dawn.

### 2. to hold back feelings

verb · CEFR B2

to try not to show an emotion or a physical reaction, like a laugh or a cough.

For teachers: to consciously inhibit the expression of an emotion, impulse, or physiological reaction.

- She had to suppress a smile when she saw his ridiculous hat.
- During the solemn ceremony, he struggled to suppress a cough, fearing the noise would disrupt the silence of the cathedral.

### 3. to hide information

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to prevent information or a book from being made public.

For teachers: to prevent the publication, circulation, or disclosure of information or creative work.

- The company tried to suppress the report about the safety flaws in their new car.
- The intelligence agency attempted to suppress the leaked documents, citing national security concerns as the primary justification for the injunction.

### 4. to block evidence

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

to legally prevent certain evidence from being used in a court case.

For teachers: to exclude evidence from a trial, typically on the grounds that it was obtained illegally or is prejudicial.

- The lawyer filed a motion to suppress the evidence because it was found without a warrant.
- The defence attorney argued that the confession was coerced and moved to suppress it before the jury was empanelled.

### 5. to reduce signals

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to reduce or get rid of unwanted electrical noise or frequencies.

For teachers: to reduce the magnitude of a signal, frequency, or interference in an electronic system.

- The new headphones use technology to suppress background noise.
- The circuit was designed to suppress high-frequency interference that would otherwise degrade the clarity of the audio output.

### 6. military tactics

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to stop an enemy from firing or moving by shooting at them.

For teachers: to prevent the enemy from performing specific tasks, such as firing or observing, through the use of overwhelming force.

- The soldiers fired at the building to suppress the enemy snipers.
- The artillery unit was ordered to suppress the enemy's defensive positions to allow the infantry to advance across the open field.

## Examples

- She tried to suppress a smile during the serious meeting.
- The government used the military to suppress the uprising before it could spread to the capital city.
- While the medication is designed to suppress the physical symptoms of the allergy, it does not address the underlying immune system overreaction that causes the sensitivity.

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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.