Word
suspect
Phoneticssus·pect, stress on the first syllable
/ˈsəsˌpɛkt/
Definitions
01to believe without proof
B1 · Intermediate
v. to think that something is probably true or exists, even if you are not 100% sure.
v. to suppose something to be true or likely based on intuition or incomplete evidence.
“I suspect that the train will be late because of the heavy snow.”
“Economists suspect that the recent dip in consumer spending is a temporary reaction to the new tax laws rather than a long-term trend.”
Antonyms
02to believe someone is guilty
B1 · Intermediate Law
v. to think that someone has done something wrong or committed a crime.
v. to believe someone to be guilty of a specific misdeed or crime without conclusive proof.
“The police suspect him of stealing the car last night.”
“Although the internal auditors suspect the manager of embezzlement, they lack the forensic evidence required to bring formal charges.”
Antonyms
03a person under investigation
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Law
n. a person who the police think may have committed a crime.
n. a person under consideration as the possible perpetrator of an offence.
“The police have arrested a suspect in connection with the robbery.”
“The lead investigator interviewed three potential suspects, but all of them provided verifiable alibis for the night in question.”
Usage
The stress is on the first syllable (SUS-pect) when used as a noun.
04dishonest or unreliable
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. something that you do not trust or that seems wrong or dangerous.
adj. of questionable truth, quality, or legality; inspiring distrust.
“The data in this report looks a bit suspect to me.”
“The company's accounting practices were deemed suspect by the regulatory body, leading to a comprehensive federal investigation.”
Usage
The stress is on the first syllable (SUS-pect) when used as an adjective.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “suspect” in context.
Verb
01. strongly suspect that
“The doctors strongly suspect that the patient has a rare viral infection.”
adv + verb + that-clause
02. suspect foul play
“Police arrived at the scene, but they do not suspect foul play at this stage.”
verb + adj + noun
03. suspect someone of a crime
“They couldn't suspect him of the crime because he had a solid alibi for that night.”
verb + noun + of + noun
Adjective
04. highly suspect
“The data used in the report is highly suspect and needs to be verified.”
adv + adj
05. prime suspect
“The business partner became the prime suspect after the motive was discovered.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. description of the suspect
“Witnesses provided a detailed description of the suspect to the investigators.”
noun + of + noun
07. suspect in the robbery
“The police are currently questioning a suspect in the robbery.”
noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Police in São Paulo said they suspected the works had been sold.” “Call 999 if you suspect someone has heatstroke.” “Flight crews had recorded four suspected bird strikes involving the same engine during the previous year.” “The answer, you suspect, has a lot to do with setting various records straight.” Etymology
From Old French suspect, from Latin suspectus, perfect passive participle of suspiciō (“mistrust, suspect”), from sub (“under”), + speciō (“watch, look at”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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