26984 words

suspend

10 definitions • 24 examples
1
to stop something from being active, either temporarily or permanently:

Examples:

The ferry service has been suspended for the day because of bad weather.
The country's president has suspended the constitution and assumed total power.
When you go to the theatre, you have to be willing to suspend disbelief (= to act as if you believe that what you are seeing is real or true, although you know that it is not).
I'm suspending judgment (= not forming an opinion) on the book I'm reading until I've finished it.
Mr Young was given a six-month jail sentence, suspended for two years (= if he commits another crime within two years, he will have to go to prison for six months for his original crime).
2
If someone is suspended from work, school, etc., they are temporarily not allowed to work, go to school, or take part in an activity because of having done something wrong:

Examples:

She was suspended from school for fighting.
He was suspended for four games after arguing with the referee.
3
to hang:

Examples:

The builders worked on wooden platforms, suspended by ropes from the roof of the building.
It was very uncomfortable lying on the hospital bed with my legs suspended in the air.
4
If small pieces of solid material are suspended in a gas or a liquid, they hang or float in the gas or liquid:

Examples:

The drug is suspended in a saline solution.
A cloud of smoke was suspended in the air.
5
to stop doing an activity:
6
A person who is suspended from a job, school, or an activity is not allowed to be involved in it, usually as a punishment:

Examples:

7
to hang down from something:

Examples:

The lights were suspended from long cords.
8
to stop something, either temporarily or permanently, from happening or continuing:

Examples:

The group's shares were suspended at 199p while the takeover deal was finalized.
suspend production/service/trading The Stock Exchange will suspend trading in the group's shares if they do not secure financing over the next two weeks.
9
if an organization suspends an employee or member, it temporarily stops them from working or from being a member, often because they have done something wrong:

Examples:

suspend sb from sth/doing sth She was suspended from her £150,000-a-year job for six months.
be suspended for 6 days/2 weeks/3 months, etc. Mr Morris, who has been suspended for a year, expects to return to his job after a meeting of governors.
The director was suspended on full pay pending the outcome of the investigation.
10
to give someone a punishment, especially a prison sentence, that will not be carried out if they do not do anything else illegal within a particular period:

Examples:

She was given an 18-month suspended sentence for her part in the fraud.
He pleaded guilty and was given a 12-month sentence suspended for 12 months.

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