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B2 noun #3,000 am häufigsten 12 Min. Lesezeit

suspend

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At the A1 level, the word 'suspend' is quite advanced, but we can understand it in its simplest physical form: hanging something. Think of a lamp hanging from the ceiling. We say the lamp is 'suspended' from the ceiling. It is like 'hanging,' but more formal. Another simple way to think about it is 'to stop for a little while.' If you are playing a game and your mom says 'Stop!', she might be suspending the game. At this level, don't worry about the big legal words. Just remember: it means to hang something up high or to stop something for a short time. For example, 'The light is suspended.' or 'The teacher suspended the lesson.' It is a special word for stopping or hanging. You might see it on a computer when it goes to 'sleep' mode. The computer 'suspends' its work so it can rest. It is not 'off,' it is just waiting. This is a good way to remember the word: it's a 'waiting' word. It's not a 'finish' word. When you suspend something, you usually start it again later. Like when you hang a picture, it stays there. When you stop a game, you play again tomorrow. So, think of 'suspend' as 'hang' or 'pause.' This will help you understand it when you see it in simple books or on your computer screen. Learning this word early helps you sound very smart because it is a more 'grown-up' word than just saying 'hang' or 'stop.' Practice by looking at things in your room that are hanging and saying, 'That is suspended.'

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At the A2 level, you can start using 'suspend' to talk about official rules and physical objects more clearly. You might hear this word at school or in sports. If a student is very bad, the principal might 'suspend' them. This means the student cannot come to school for two or three days. It is a punishment. It is not the same as 'expelling' (which means leaving forever). 'Suspend' is always temporary. In sports, if a player breaks a rule, the referee might 'suspend' them for one game. They have to sit and watch. Physically, you can use it for things like bridges. A 'suspension bridge' is a famous kind of bridge, like the Golden Gate Bridge. The road is 'suspended' from big cables. This means the cables hold the road up in the air. You can also use it for your computer. When you close your laptop, it might 'suspend' its activity. This saves battery. It's better than turning it off because it wakes up fast. So, at A2, remember 'suspend' for: 1. School or sports punishments (temporary). 2. Things hanging from cables (like bridges). 3. Computers resting. It is a very useful word for describing things that are 'on hold' or 'in the air.' Try to use it instead of 'stop' when you talk about a official decision. For example, 'The game was suspended because of rain.' This sounds more professional than 'The game stopped because of rain.'

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At the B1 level, 'suspend' becomes an important word for describing professional and social situations. You should understand that 'suspend' implies a formal decision made by someone in authority. It is not just a random stop; it is an official pause. For instance, a company might 'suspend operations' if there is a problem with the building. This means all work stops until the problem is fixed. In the news, you might hear about a country 'suspending' an agreement. This is a serious diplomatic action. It means they are not following the rules of the agreement for now, but they haven't completely destroyed the agreement yet. You should also learn the phrase 'suspend disbelief.' This is used when talking about movies or books. To enjoy a story about magic, you have to 'suspend your disbelief'—you have to stop thinking 'this isn't real' and just enjoy the story. This is a more abstract way to use the word. Physically, you can use 'suspend' to describe particles in a liquid or gas. If you shake a bottle of muddy water, the dirt is 'suspended' in the water before it sinks to the bottom. This is common in science classes. At B1, you should be comfortable using 'suspend' in the passive voice: 'The project was suspended due to a lack of funding.' This is a very common structure in business English. It helps you describe situations where progress has stopped without blaming a specific person. Remember the difference between 'suspend' and 'cancel.' 'Cancel' is forever; 'suspend' is a pause.

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At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'suspend' with precision in various contexts, including legal, technical, and academic English. You should understand the nuances of a 'suspended sentence' in law. This is when a person is found guilty, but the judge says they don't have to go to prison right away. If they stay out of trouble for a year, they might never go to prison. The sentence is 'suspended' over their head like a threat. This shows the 'hanging' and 'stopping' meanings of the word coming together. You should also be familiar with 'suspend' in the context of financial markets. If a stock's price is changing too fast, the exchange might 'suspend trading' to let everyone calm down. This is a strategic use of the word. In terms of grammar, you should be careful with collocations. We 'suspend judgment' when we want to wait for more facts before making a decision. We 'suspend a license' when someone breaks driving laws. We 'suspend a person from their job' during an investigation. Notice how 'suspend' often takes the preposition 'from'. In academic writing, 'suspend' is a great alternative to 'put on hold' or 'interrupt'. It sounds more objective and formal. For example, 'The researchers had to suspend the clinical trial after several participants reported side effects.' This is a clear, professional way to describe a necessary pause. You should also understand the physical meaning in engineering and chemistry more deeply, such as 'suspended solids' in environmental science. At this level, you should be able to choose 'suspend' over its synonyms to convey a sense of formal, temporary cessation or physical hanging with confidence.

At the C1 level, 'suspend' is a word you should use to show sophisticated control over register and tone. You should be able to use it in complex metaphorical ways. For example, you might describe a moment in a story where 'time seemed suspended,' meaning everything felt like it stopped moving because of a strong emotion or a beautiful sight. This is a very literary use of the word. You should also be aware of the word's role in governance and international relations. A 'suspension of the constitution' is a grave event that you might discuss in a political science essay. It implies a total, though theoretically temporary, halt to the normal legal order. In business and law, you should understand the implications of a 'cease and desist' order which might 'suspend' certain activities immediately. You should also be able to distinguish between 'suspend' and 'abeyance.' While 'suspend' is the action, something can be 'held in abeyance,' which is a more formal way to describe the state of being suspended. Your use of 'suspend' should reflect an understanding of the power dynamics involved—who has the authority to suspend, and what the criteria for resumption are. For instance, in a high-level report, you might write, 'The board opted to suspend the merger negotiations pending a more thorough due diligence process.' Here, 'suspend' communicates a calculated, professional delay. You should also be comfortable with the scientific and technical applications, using the word to describe complex physical systems like 'magnetic suspension' or 'aqueous suspensions.' At C1, your vocabulary should be fluid, allowing you to move from the physical to the abstract meanings of 'suspend' without hesitation, using it to add precision and a formal polish to your speech and writing.

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At the C2 level, your mastery of 'suspend' should be absolute, encompassing its most rare and specialized uses. You should be able to appreciate the word's etymological roots—from the Latin 'suspendere,' meaning 'to hang up.' This root informs all its modern uses, from the physical hanging of a bridge to the metaphorical hanging of a legal sentence. You should be able to use the word in highly nuanced contexts, such as 'suspending a belief system' in the study of phenomenology or philosophy (often called 'epoche'). In this sense, 'suspend' means to set aside one's assumptions to see the world more clearly. This is a very high-level academic use. You should also be aware of the word's use in high-finance and corporate law, such as 'suspending redemptions' in a hedge fund, which is a specific and impactful action during a financial crisis. Your ability to use 'suspend' in the correct register is paramount. You might use it in a poetic sense: 'The hawk remained suspended in the azure sky, a silent sentinel over the valley.' Or in a strictly technical sense: 'The colloidal particles are suspended via Brownian motion, preventing sedimentation.' You should also be able to navigate the subtle differences between 'suspend,' 'intermit,' and 'stay.' For example, a 'stay of execution' is a specific legal suspension. At C2, you are not just using the word; you are wielding it with an awareness of its history, its legal weight, and its poetic potential. You can explain the difference between a 'suspended' state and a 'dormant' state in biology or computing. Your mastery allows you to use 'suspend' to create specific rhythms in your prose, using its formal tone to balance more emotional content or to reinforce a sense of institutional authority. You understand that 'suspend' is a word of tension—it holds things in the air, waiting for the next move.

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The word 'suspend' means to stop an action or a person's privileges for a temporary period, often as an official or disciplinary measure.
It also describes the physical act of hanging an object from a higher point so that it remains in the air without support from below.
In science, 'suspend' refers to particles that are floating in a liquid or gas without settling, creating what is known as a suspension.
Commonly used in legal, academic, and sports contexts, 'suspend' implies that the cessation is not permanent and the activity may resume later.

The word suspend is a versatile term that primarily functions as a verb, though it describes an action that results in a state of temporary cessation or physical hanging. When we talk about suspending something, we are usually referring to one of two distinct physical or conceptual actions. The first major meaning involves the official halting of a process, a rule, or a person's participation in an activity. This is common in legal, academic, and professional settings. For example, a student might be suspended from school for breaking rules, or a judge might suspend a court hearing until new evidence is found. The second major meaning is purely physical: to hang something from above so that it does not touch the ground. This could be a lamp suspended from a ceiling or particles suspended in a liquid. Understanding the nuance between these two uses is crucial for mastering the word.

Formal Cessation: The act of stopping an activity or a person's privilege for a specific period of time, usually as a punishment or a strategic delay.

The committee decided to suspend the rules to allow for an immediate vote on the emergency funding bill.

Physical Suspension: To attach something to a high point so that it hangs down freely without support from below.

Large chandeliers were suspended from the ornate ceiling of the ballroom, casting a soft glow over the dancers.

Scientific Context: In chemistry, it refers to particles that are dispersed throughout a fluid but are large enough to eventually settle out.

Fine dust remained suspended in the air for hours after the old building was demolished.

The athlete was suspended for three games following a violation of the league's conduct policy.

Production was suspended at the factory while the safety inspectors conducted their annual review.

In daily life, you will hear this word most often in news reports regarding legal cases or sports penalties. It carries a weight of authority and formality. When a government suspends civil liberties, it is a serious event indicating a temporary removal of rights. When a bridge is described as a 'suspension bridge,' it refers to the physical mechanism of the roadway being hung from massive cables. The word evokes a sense of being 'in-between'—neither fully active nor fully gone, neither on the ground nor flying. It is a state of tension and waiting. Whether it is a disbelief being suspended for a movie or a license being suspended for a traffic violation, the core idea remains: a temporary pause or a supported hanging. This word is essential for B2 learners as it bridges the gap between everyday physical descriptions and more abstract professional and legal terminology. It requires an understanding of time (temporary vs. permanent) and space (hanging vs. sitting). By mastering 'suspend,' you gain a precise tool for describing interruptions and physical arrangements that are common in academic and professional English.

Using 'suspend' correctly requires paying attention to the object of the verb and the context of the action. Because it has both physical and abstract meanings, the sentence structure can vary slightly, though it is almost always used as a transitive verb (it takes an object). In professional contexts, you will often see it used in the passive voice, such as 'The project was suspended.' This shifts the focus from who stopped the project to the state of the project itself. When using it for physical objects, you often use the preposition 'from' to indicate the source of support. For example, 'The swing was suspended from a thick oak branch.' In legal or disciplinary contexts, you might use 'for' to indicate the duration or the reason.

Passive Voice Usage: Common in news and business to report actions taken by authorities or organizations.

Trading on the stock exchange was suspended after the market plummeted by ten percent in minutes.

Physical Placement: Describes the position of an object in space, often using 'by' or 'from'.

The mountain climber was suspended by a single rope over the deep crevasse.

Abstract Concepts: Used with words like 'disbelief', 'judgment', or 'operations'.

To enjoy the fantasy movie, you must suspend your disbelief and accept the existence of dragons.

The airline had to suspend all flights to the region due to the approaching hurricane.

The judge decided to suspend the sentence, meaning the defendant would not go to jail if they stayed out of trouble.

When writing, consider the level of formality. 'Suspend' is much more formal than 'put on hold' or 'hang up'. In a business report, you would write 'We have suspended the recruitment process,' whereas in a casual conversation, you might say 'We've stopped hiring for now.' The word is also frequently used in the context of science and engineering. A 'suspension' bridge is a marvel of engineering where the weight is suspended from cables. In chemistry, a 'suspension' is a mixture where particles are suspended in a liquid. The verb form is used to describe the act of creating these states. It is also important to note the time element. Unlike 'terminate' or 'cancel,' 'suspend' strongly suggests that the action is not permanent. It implies a pause, a wait, or a temporary removal. If a bank suspends your account, they are checking something and will likely reopen it once the issue is resolved. If they close your account, it is gone. This distinction is vital for clear communication in professional environments.

You will encounter the word 'suspend' in several specific high-stakes environments. The most common is the legal and judicial system. News headlines often feature sentences like 'The judge suspended the trial' or 'The lawyer asked to suspend the proceedings.' In these cases, it means a temporary stop to allow for deliberation or new information. Another frequent setting is professional sports. When an athlete violates rules—whether through on-field conduct or off-field issues like doping—they are often 'suspended' for a set number of games. This is a standard disciplinary action across FIFA, the NFL, the NBA, and other major leagues.

News and Politics: Used when governments stop international aid, cancel flights, or temporarily remove laws during emergencies.

The government has decided to suspend all non-essential travel across the border until the health crisis is under control.

Education: Refers to a student being temporarily barred from attending school as a disciplinary measure.

The principal had no choice but to suspend the students involved in the cafeteria fight for five days.

Finance and Business: Used when a company stops trading its shares or when a bank stops a transaction due to suspicious activity.

The company was forced to suspend its dividend payments to shareholders to conserve cash during the recession.

Construction on the new skyscraper was suspended after the discovery of ancient ruins on the site.

The driver's license was suspended for six months after he was caught speeding for the third time this year.

In everyday technology, you might see the word when using your computer. Putting a laptop into 'suspend mode' (often called sleep mode) is a common feature. It means the computer stops most of its functions but keeps enough power to remember what you were doing. In the world of art and design, you might hear about 'suspended ceilings' or 'suspended lighting,' referring to elements that hang below the main structural ceiling to hide pipes or create aesthetic effects. Even in weather reports, you might hear about 'suspended particles' or 'suspended dust' in the atmosphere affecting visibility. The word is ubiquitous because it describes a fundamental state of existence: being held in place, either in time or in space, without being completely finished or grounded. Its frequency in the IELTS and TOEFL exams is high because it requires students to understand formal institutional processes and physical descriptions simultaneously.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make with 'suspend' is confusing it with 'cancel' or 'stop' without considering the temporary nature of the word. If you say a meeting is 'suspended,' people will wait in the room or check their calendars for a new time. If you 'cancel' it, they go home. Using 'suspend' when you mean 'end permanently' can lead to significant confusion in business settings. Another common error is grammatical: using 'suspend' as if it were an intransitive verb like 'wait.' You cannot say 'The class suspended.' You must say 'The class was suspended' or 'The teacher suspended the class.'

Confusing with 'Cancel': Learners often use 'suspend' for permanent endings. Remember: 'suspend' implies it might start again.

Wrong: The company suspended the contract forever. Correct: The company canceled the contract.

Confusing with 'Postpone': While similar, 'postpone' usually means moving a start time to a specific later date. 'Suspend' means stopping something that has already started.

Wrong: We suspended the meeting to next Friday. Correct: We postponed the meeting to next Friday.

Preposition Errors: Using 'on' instead of 'from' for physical hanging.

Wrong: The light was suspended on the ceiling. Correct: The light was suspended from the ceiling.

Wrong: He was suspended of his job. Correct: He was suspended from his job.

Wrong: The dust suspended in the water. Correct: The dust was suspended in the water.

Another nuance is the difference between 'suspend' and 'delay'. A delay is often unintentional (like a flight delay due to weather). A suspension is usually a deliberate, official decision (like suspending flights to a country for political reasons). Using 'delay' when you mean an official 'suspension' can make the action sound less authoritative or planned than it actually is. Finally, be careful with the noun form 'suspension'. While it shares the same meanings, it is often used in specific technical ways—like the 'suspension' system in a car (the springs and shock absorbers). Learners sometimes use the verb when they should use the noun, or vice versa. For example, 'The car has a good suspend' is incorrect; it should be 'The car has good suspension.' Understanding these distinctions helps in producing accurate, natural-sounding English in both academic and professional writing.

To truly master 'suspend,' you must understand its neighbors in the English language. Several words share parts of its meaning, but each has a specific 'flavor' or context. 'Postpone,' 'defer,' 'adjourn,' and 'hang' are the most common alternatives. 'Postpone' is the most general term for moving something to a later time. 'Defer' is more formal and often implies putting something off out of respect or because of a priority. 'Adjourn' is specifically used for formal meetings or court sessions.

Suspend vs. Adjourn: 'Adjourn' is used for the end of a session, whereas 'suspend' is used for a temporary break within a session.

The court will suspend for lunch and then adjourn for the day at 5:00 PM.

Suspend vs. Postpone: 'Postpone' is for things that haven't started; 'suspend' is for things already in progress.

We had to postpone the wedding, but the city decided to suspend all large gatherings.

Suspend vs. Intercept: 'Intercept' means to catch something in transit; 'suspend' means to stop the transit entirely for a while.

The police suspended the search for the missing hiker due to heavy fog.

Please defer your questions until the end of the presentation.

The heavy curtains were hung (or suspended) from a brass rod.

When choosing between these words, consider the authority behind the action. 'Suspend' carries an official or structural weight. If a teacher stops a class, it's a suspension. If a friend stops talking to you, it's just a pause. In science, 'suspend' is a technical term that cannot be replaced by 'hang' or 'postpone'. For example, you cannot say 'dust is postponed in the air.' This scientific precision makes 'suspend' unique. In legal terms, a 'suspended sentence' is a very specific legal construct that 'postponed sentence' or 'delayed sentence' wouldn't accurately describe. By expanding your vocabulary to include these synonyms and understanding their boundaries, you can communicate more like a native speaker, choosing the exact word that fits the level of formality and the specific nature of the interruption or physical state you are describing.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The word 'suspender' (the clothing item) comes from the same root because they 'suspend' your trousers from your shoulders.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /səˈspend/

US /səˈspend/

Second syllable: sə-SPEND

Reimt sich auf

depend extend intend amend blend trend end friend

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the first 's' too strongly like 'sus' in 'suspect'. It should be a soft schwa.
Forgetting the 'd' at the end, making it sound like 'suspen'.
Confusing the stress and putting it on the first syllable.
Pronouncing the 'u' as a full 'u' sound instead of a schwa.
Blending the 's' and 'p' too much without a clear 'p' sound.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 3/5

Common in news and books, usually easy to understand from context.

Schreiben 4/5

Requires knowledge of specific collocations and prepositions.

Sprechen 3/5

Useful in professional discussions about delays or rules.

Hören 2/5

Clear pronunciation and distinct meaning in most contexts.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

hang stop wait hold rule

Als Nächstes lernen

adjourn postpone defer expel abeyance

Fortgeschritten

epoche colloidal intermission moratorium stay of execution

Wichtige Grammatik

Passive Voice with Suspend

The game was suspended (not 'The game suspended').

Preposition 'From' for physical hanging

Suspended from the branch.

Preposition 'For' for duration

Suspended for two weeks.

Preposition 'From' for removal of privilege

Suspended from the team.

Transitive usage

He suspended the meeting.

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Beispiele nach Niveau

The lamp is suspended from the ceiling.

The lamp hangs from the top of the room.

Passive voice: 'is suspended'.

The teacher suspended the lesson for a break.

The teacher stopped the class for a short time.

Past simple: 'suspended'.

My computer is in suspend mode.

My computer is sleeping.

Noun-like use in a compound phrase.

They suspended a big sign over the door.

They hung a sign above the entrance.

Transitive verb with object 'sign'.

The rain suspended our outdoor game.

The rain stopped our game outside.

Subject 'rain' causes the action.

Please suspend your work for a minute.

Please stop what you are doing for a moment.

Imperative form.

A bridge is suspended over the river.

A bridge hangs over the water.

Passive voice.

The clock was suspended by a wire.

The clock was hanging by a thin metal line.

Using 'by' for the means of suspension.

The student was suspended for three days.

The student cannot go to school for a short time.

Passive voice for punishment.

The football player was suspended after the foul.

The player cannot play the next game.

Sports context.

We suspended the project because it was too expensive.

We stopped the work because of money.

Reasoning with 'because'.

The city suspended bus services during the storm.

The buses stopped running because of the bad weather.

Official decision by 'the city'.

The bridge is a famous suspended structure.

The bridge is held up by cables.

Adjective use 'suspended'.

They suspended the search when it got dark.

They stopped looking for the person at night.

Temporal clause 'when it got dark'.

The bank suspended my card for safety.

The bank stopped my card to protect my money.

Action for security reasons.

The hanging basket was suspended from the porch.

The flower pot was hanging from the roof.

Physical description.

The company decided to suspend operations in that country.

The company stopped working there for a while.

Infinitive 'to suspend' after 'decided'.

You must suspend your disbelief to enjoy this science fiction movie.

You need to stop doubting the story to have fun.

Idiomatic phrase 'suspend disbelief'.

The trial was suspended until next week.

The court case was paused until seven days later.

Legal context, passive voice.

Dust particles were suspended in the sunlight.

Small bits of dirt were floating in the light.

Scientific/descriptive context.

The government suspended the law during the emergency.

The government stopped using the rule for a short time.

Political context.

The athlete's license was suspended for doping.

The athlete cannot compete because they used illegal drugs.

Cause indicated by 'for'.

They suspended the meeting to discuss the new proposal.

They paused the meeting to talk about a new idea.

Purpose indicated by 'to discuss'.

The heavy machinery was suspended by a crane.

A big machine was hanging from a crane.

Industrial context.

The judge handed down a suspended sentence.

The person was guilty but didn't go to jail immediately.

Collocation 'suspended sentence'.

Trading was suspended after the market crash.

The stock market stopped buying and selling.

Financial context.

We should suspend judgment until we have all the facts.

We shouldn't decide if it's good or bad yet.

Abstract usage 'suspend judgment'.

The peace talks were suspended following the outbreak of violence.

The discussions for peace stopped because of fighting.

Diplomatic context.

The project was suspended indefinitely due to budget cuts.

The work stopped for an unknown amount of time.

Adverb 'indefinitely' modifying 'suspended'.

The airline suspended flights to the capital city.

The airline stopped flying to the main city.

Transitive verb with plural object.

Fine silt is suspended in the river water.

Small pieces of earth are floating in the river.

Scientific description.

The committee voted to suspend the rules for the evening.

The group chose to ignore the normal rules for one night.

Formal procedure.

The constitution was suspended during the military coup.

The main laws of the country were stopped by the army.

High-level political context.

The delicate mobile was suspended from the gallery ceiling.

The artistic moving sculpture was hanging in the art room.

Artistic context.

He was suspended from his duties pending an internal investigation.

He stopped working while they checked if he did something wrong.

Phrase 'pending an investigation'.

The animation gives the illusion of suspended animation.

The drawing makes it look like life has stopped.

Term 'suspended animation'.

The bank has the right to suspend redemptions in extreme cases.

The bank can stop people from taking their money out.

Technical financial term.

The disbelief must be suspended for the narrative to work.

The reader must stop doubting for the story to be good.

Passive form of the idiom.

The search for survivors was suspended as night fell.

They stopped looking for people because it was dark.

Conjunction 'as' showing time.

The bridge's deck is suspended from two massive steel cables.

The part you drive on is hanging from big wires.

Engineering detail.

The philosopher argued for the suspension of all transcendental judgments.

The thinker said we should stop making big assumptions.

Philosophical context (using noun form 'suspension').

The particles remain suspended in the medium through electrostatic forces.

The bits stay in the liquid because of electricity.

Advanced scientific explanation.

The CEO's powers were suspended by the board of directors.

The boss's authority was taken away by the leaders.

Corporate governance.

The music created a sense of suspended time and space.

The sound made it feel like everything stopped.

Metaphorical/poetic use.

The treaty was suspended in toto after the border incident.

The whole agreement was stopped after the fight at the border.

Latin phrase 'in toto' (completely).

The crane suspended the heavy girder with effortless precision.

The machine hung the big metal beam perfectly.

Precise descriptive language.

A state of suspended animation is often seen in certain desert animals.

Some animals look dead but are just resting deeply.

Biological term.

The judge chose to suspend the habeas corpus rights during the rebellion.

The judge stopped the right to a fair trial during the fight.

Legal/historical context.

Synonyme

postpone interrupt halt defer dangle adjourn

Gegenteile

continue resume start

Häufige Kollokationen

suspend judgment

suspend operations

suspend disbelief

suspend a sentence

suspend a license

suspend from school

suspended animation

suspended particles

suspend trading

suspend aid

Häufige Phrasen

suspend the rules

— To temporarily ignore the normal rules to get something done quickly.

The chairman moved to suspend the rules for the vote.

suspend payment

— To stop paying money that is owed for a period of time.

The bank allowed him to suspend payment on his loan.

suspend from a height

— To hang something very high up.

The acrobat was suspended from a height of thirty feet.

suspend activity

— To stop doing something for a while.

Volcanic activity has been suspended for now.

suspend a search

— To stop looking for something or someone temporarily.

The coast guard suspended the search due to the storm.

suspend a project

— To put a work project on hold.

We had to suspend the project until we got more money.

suspend belief

— To stop believing in something for a short time.

He asked her to suspend her belief in the impossible.

suspend a membership

— To pause a gym or club membership.

I suspended my gym membership while I was on vacation.

suspend a program

— To stop a computer or social program for a while.

The city suspended the recycling program during the strike.

suspend a flight

— To stop a scheduled plane trip.

The airline suspended all flights to London.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

suspend vs cancel

Cancel is permanent; suspend is temporary.

suspend vs postpone

Postpone is before something starts; suspend is after it has started.

suspend vs delay

Delay is often accidental; suspend is usually an official decision.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"suspend disbelief"

— To sacrifice realism and logic for the sake of enjoyment.

You have to suspend disbelief to enjoy a movie about talking cars.

literary/common

"hang in the balance"

— To be in an uncertain or critical state (related to the 'hanging' concept).

The future of the company hangs in the balance.

idiomatic

"keep someone in suspense"

— To keep someone waiting anxiously for information.

Don't keep me in suspense; tell me if I got the job!

common

"on hold"

— Waiting or temporarily suspended (synonymous idiom).

The plans are on hold for now.

informal

"wait in the wings"

— To be ready and waiting to take over (related to the 'waiting' aspect).

The vice president is waiting in the wings.

idiomatic

"up in the air"

— Uncertain or not yet decided (related to being suspended).

Our travel plans are still up in the air.

informal

"draw a veil over"

— To stop talking about something (a form of suspending discussion).

Let's draw a veil over that unfortunate incident.

formal

"put on ice"

— To delay or suspend something for a later time.

The deal was put on ice until next year.

informal

"leave hanging"

— To leave someone without a conclusion or answer.

He left me hanging after the first date.

informal

"in limbo"

— In an uncertain or undecided state between two stages.

The project is in limbo until the new manager arrives.

common

Leicht verwechselbar

suspend vs suspense

They share the same root.

'Suspend' is the action; 'suspense' is the feeling of excitement or anxiety while waiting.

The movie kept me in suspense because they suspended the ending.

suspend vs suspender

It looks like a person who suspends.

A 'suspender' is usually a piece of clothing; a person who suspends is usually called an 'official' or 'authority'.

He wore suspenders to the meeting where they suspended him.

suspend vs expel

Both are school punishments.

'Suspend' is for a few days; 'expel' is forever.

If you are suspended again, they might expel you.

suspend vs adjourn

Both mean to stop a meeting.

'Adjourn' is for the end of the day; 'suspend' is for a short break.

Let's suspend for lunch and adjourn at five.

suspend vs terminate

Both mean to stop.

'Terminate' is a final ending; 'suspend' is a pause.

They terminated the contract after suspending it for a month.

Satzmuster

The [Object] is suspended from [Place].

The light is suspended from the ceiling.

[Person] was suspended for [Reason].

He was suspended for fighting.

We need to suspend [Activity] because of [Reason].

We need to suspend the search because of the rain.

The judge decided to suspend the [Legal Term].

The judge decided to suspend the sentence.

[Abstract Concept] remains suspended pending [Event].

The merger remains suspended pending regulatory approval.

A state of suspended [Noun] was achieved.

A state of suspended animation was achieved.

It is hard to suspend your disbelief when [Condition].

It is hard to suspend your disbelief when the acting is bad.

Trading was suspended due to [Financial Event].

Trading was suspended due to extreme volatility.

Wortfamilie

Substantive

suspension

suspense

suspender

Verben

suspend

Adjektive

suspended

suspensive

Verwandt

pendant

pendulum

depend

append

impending

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frequency

High in news, law, and science; moderate in daily speech.

Häufige Fehler

The meeting suspended. → The meeting was suspended.
Suspend is a transitive verb; it needs a subject to act on an object, or to be in the passive voice.
He was suspended of school. → He was suspended from school.
The correct preposition to use after 'suspend' when referring to a place or duty is 'from'.
I suspended the light on the ceiling. → I suspended the light from the ceiling.
Use 'from' because the object is hanging down from the support.
They suspended the contract forever. → They canceled the contract.
'Suspend' implies a temporary stop. If it's permanent, use 'cancel' or 'terminate'.
The car has a good suspend. → The car has good suspension.
'Suspend' is a verb. For the mechanical system of a car, use the noun 'suspension'.

Tipps

Use Passive Voice

When an authority stops something, we usually say 'It was suspended' rather than 'They suspended it'.

Learn the Noun

Remember that 'suspension' is the noun form. You have a car suspension, but you suspend the rules.

Business English

Use 'suspend' when a project is on hold due to external factors like budget or law.

Polite Pauses

Use 'Can we suspend this for a moment?' to pause a heated argument politely.

Scientific Accuracy

Use 'suspended' to describe things floating in air or water, like smoke or silt.

IELTS/TOEFL

This word often appears in reading passages about law, history, or science. Know both meanings!

Legal Nuance

A 'suspended sentence' is a common term in English-speaking legal systems. It's a key B2+ concept.

The Bridge Rule

Imagine a bridge. It's hanging (physical) and it stops you from falling (cessation).

Movie Magic

Always pair 'suspend' with 'disbelief' when talking about fictional stories.

Common Pairs

Memorize 'suspend judgment' and 'suspend operations' as single units.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'SUS-PEND'. 'SUS' like 'sub' (under) and 'PEND' like 'pendulum'. A pendulum is suspended and swings back and forth, just like a decision that is paused.

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a bridge hanging from cables over a gap. The bridge is 'suspended'—it's not touching the bottom, just like a suspended student is not in the school building.

Word Web

hang pause delay school sports bridge judgment disbelief

Herausforderung

Try to use 'suspend' in three different ways today: one for a physical object, one for a rule, and one for a person's activity.

Wortherkunft

From the Latin word 'suspendere', which is a combination of 'sub' (under) and 'pendere' (to hang). It entered Middle English via Old French 'suspendre'.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: To hang up, to kill by hanging, or to delay.

Indo-European (Latin branch)

Kultureller Kontext

Be careful when using 'suspend' for people; it implies they did something wrong or that there is an investigation.

In the US and UK, 'suspension' in schools is a common topic of debate regarding discipline and social justice.

Coleridge's 'suspension of disbelief' The Golden Gate Suspension Bridge The Suspension of the Great Charter in history

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

School

suspended for fighting
in-school suspension
suspension letter
appeal a suspension

Science

suspended particles
aqueous suspension
magnetic suspension
suspended solids

Law

suspended sentence
suspend the trial
suspend a license
suspend the rules

Technology

suspend mode
suspend a process
suspended account
suspend activity

Engineering

suspension bridge
suspended ceiling
suspended floor
suspension system

Gesprächseinstiege

"Have you ever had to suspend your judgment about someone before getting to know them?"

"Do you think schools should suspend students, or is there a better way to punish them?"

"What's the most beautiful suspension bridge you've ever seen?"

"How do you feel when a movie is so bad you can't suspend your disbelief?"

"If you could suspend one law for a day, which one would it be?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Describe a time when your plans were suspended. How did you feel during the wait?

Write about a movie that allowed you to perfectly suspend your disbelief. What made it so convincing?

Should professional athletes be suspended for things they do outside of their sport?

Imagine a world where time could be suspended at will. How would you use this power?

Discuss the pros and cons of a suspended sentence versus immediate jail time.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, 'suspend' means to stop their work temporarily, usually while an investigation happens. If they are fired, the word is 'terminate' or 'dismiss'.

It means the person is guilty but doesn't go to jail unless they break the law again during a certain period.

Yes, 'suspend' is a verb. The noun form is 'suspension'.

It usually refers to 'suspend mode,' where the computer saves its state and goes into a low-power sleep.

It is a bridge where the deck (the road) is hung from cables that are anchored at each end.

It means to wait and not form an opinion until you have more information.

Yes, most gyms allow you to 'suspend' or pause your membership for a few months if you are traveling or sick.

In science, these are small solid particles that are floating in a liquid and haven't sunk to the bottom yet.

Yes, it is more formal than 'hang' or 'stop'. It is used in official documents and news.

The opposite can be 'resume' (to start again) or 'continue' (to not stop).

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