Word
suspenseful
Phoneticssus·pense·ful, stress on the second syllable
US/səˈspɛnsfəɫ/
UK/səspˈɛnsfəl/
Definition
adj. keeping you waiting or worrying because you do not know what will happen next. It describes a situation or story that makes you feel excited and nervous at the same time.
adj. causing a state of anxious uncertainty or excitement. Often describes narratives or events where the outcome is unknown or delayed.
Examples
“The movie has a very suspenseful ending.”
“The audience sat in silence, waiting for the suspenseful reveal of the winner.”
“The author builds a suspenseful atmosphere by withholding key details until the final chapter, keeping readers engaged through a sense of impending doom.”
Examples
simple
“The movie has a very suspenseful ending.”
contextual
“The audience sat in silence, waiting for the suspenseful reveal of the winner.”
complex
“The author builds a suspenseful atmosphere by withholding key details until the final chapter, keeping readers engaged through a sense of impending doom.”
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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