# suspend

/səˈspɛnd/ (US) · /səspˈɛnd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to stop temporarily

verb · CEFR B2

to stop an activity or a process for a short period of time.

For teachers: to halt or defer an action, process, or service for a temporary duration. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- The ferry service was suspended for two hours because of the thick fog.
- The central bank decided to suspend trading on the stock exchange following the sudden and unexplained collapse of the national currency.

### 2. to hang

verb · CEFR B2

to hang something from a high place so that it does not touch the ground.

For teachers: to hang something from above so that it is supported and allowed to swing or remain stationary in the air.

- A large crystal lamp was suspended from the ceiling in the middle of the room.
- The architect designed a bridge where the main deck is suspended from massive steel cables anchored into the bedrock on either side of the river.

### 3. official punishment

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to officially stop someone from attending school or doing their job for a while as a punishment.

For teachers: to debar someone temporarily from a privilege, office, or educational institution, typically as a disciplinary measure.

- The player was suspended for three games after he argued with the referee.
- The board of directors voted to suspend the chief executive without pay while the internal investigation into the missing funds was being conducted.

### 4. to delay a decision

verb · CEFR C1 · Academic · Formal

to wait before making a final decision or judgment.

For teachers: to keep a decision, judgment, or belief in an undecided state until more information is available.

- You should suspend your judgment until you have heard both sides of the story.
- The committee chose to suspend their final verdict on the proposal until the environmental impact study had been thoroughly peer-reviewed.

### 5. particles in liquid

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to mix small pieces of a solid into a liquid so they stay there without sinking.

For teachers: to distribute particles of an insoluble solid throughout a liquid or gas. Often used in the passive voice.

- The medicine contains tiny bubbles of oil suspended in a watery liquid.
- The volcanic ash remained suspended in the upper atmosphere for several months, causing a measurable drop in global temperatures.

## Examples

- The school decided to suspend the student for three days.
- The airline had to suspend all flights to the island until the heavy storm passed and the runway was cleared.
- The committee voted to suspend the current regulations while they investigated the safety breach, effectively halting all production until a new protocol could be established and verified.

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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.