# suppressing

/səˈpɹɛsɪŋ/ (US) · /səpɹˈɛsɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. stopping by force

verb · CEFR B2

stopping an activity or a group of people by using power or force.

For teachers: forcibly putting an end to an activity, rebellion, or public expression.

- The government was accused of suppressing the protests in the capital city.
- The regime focused on suppressing dissent by monitoring private communications and restricting the freedom of the local press.

### 2. hiding feelings or information

verb · CEFR B2

preventing yourself from showing a feeling or keeping information secret.

For teachers: consciously inhibiting the expression of an emotion or preventing the publication of information.

- She had a hard time suppressing a smile during the serious meeting.
- The legal team was accused of suppressing evidence that could have changed the outcome of the trial.

### 3. medical/biological

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

stopping a natural process in the body, like a cough or an allergy.

For teachers: reducing or preventing the activity of a biological function or the immune system.

- The new medication works by suppressing the patient's immune response.
- The treatment is effective at suppressing the virus, though it does not eliminate it from the body entirely.

### 4. the act of stopping

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of ending something or keeping it down.

For teachers: the action or process of preventing something from being seen, heard, or active.

- The suppressing of the truth led to a major scandal years later.
- The systematic suppressing of minority languages in schools had a lasting impact on the region's cultural heritage.

## Examples

- She is suppressing a smile during the serious meeting.
- The government is suppressing the report because it contains critical information about the recent economic crisis.
- By suppressing the evidence of the experiment's failure, the lead researcher managed to secure another year of funding, though the ethical implications eventually ruined his reputation.

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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.