suspend - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
suspend Word Meanings
- to temporarily prevent from continuing
- to hang or be held up
- to delay or put on hold
suspend Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
suspend Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/səˈspɛnd/
US
/səˈspɛnd/
suspend Word Etymology
sus- = from below, pendere = to hang. Originating from Latin, it passed through Old French before becoming part of English. Imagine a swing hanging in the air, waiting for someone to jump on and start a ride.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
Standing steady, I grip the rope's end and watch the object hang in the air. I slowly pull, and it sways a little, as if I’m nudging time forward a notch. I shift my breath and decide when to let go, or keep it hovering here for a beat. When I commit, I exhale and set a short pause, feeling the moment settle.
Real Context
Suspend is a versatile verb that describes making someone or something stop temporarily. It can mean to halt progress or activity for a short period, as when a program is suspended for maintenance or a meeting is suspended due to an emergency. It can also describe hanging or being held up physically, as in a lamp suspended from the ceiling or a bridge suspended by cables. In law, suspend can indicate delaying a penalty or a sentence, while in everyday use it often collocates with nouns like operation, judgment, or disbelief when someone asks you to suspend judgment. The idea is temporary interruption with potential to resume.
Usage Reminders
- Use with actions that can resume; pair with nouns like operation, service, or meeting. Distinguish suspend from pause and postpone. Use suspended as an adjective for things temporarily stopped. Learn common collocations: suspend a rule, suspend a sentence, suspension of disbelief. Form the past tense as suspended and noun as suspension. Remember it often implies a planned or conditional halt, not an endless stop.
Common Misconceptions
- Suspending means ending permanently
- Confusing suspend with pause for all situations
- Thinking suspend means to cancel a plan forever
- Believing suspended sentences are always immediate punishments
- Mistaking physical hanging as the only sense of suspend
Thinking Differences
For English learners, suspend often centers on temporary interruption with an eye toward resumption, contrasting with longer term pauses. Learners sometimes equate it with canceling entirely or with the literal act of hanging. Emphasize collocations (suspend a service, suspended sentence) and the noun suspension.
Learning Tips
- Practice with common collocations (suspend a service, suspend a sentence).
- Distinguish suspend from pause and postpone in time frames.
- Use suspended and suspension to describe states.
- Create sentences about tech, law, and everyday life.
- Notice passive forms like was suspended and will be suspended.
- Review root and related forms to expand vocabulary.
5-Step Learning Method - Learn English in English
Step 1: Meaning
What does the word 'suspend' mean?
A.Continue
B.Start
C.Delay
D.Finish
Step 2: Usage
In which of the following sentences is 'suspend' used correctly? The company decided to ______ the project until further notice.
A.Delay
B.Continue
C.Finish
D.Start
Step 3: Similar Words
Which of the following is a synonym for 'suspend'?
A.Halt
B.Resume
C.Cancel
D.Continue
Step 4: Opposite Words
In what real-world situation would you most likely encounter the word 'suspend'?
A.Driving a car
B.Taking a test
C.Cooking a meal
D.Using office equipment
Step 5: Mastery
Can you think of a scenario where 'suspend' would be applicable in your daily life?
A.Exercising
B.Reflecting on a decision
C.Reading a book
D.Watching TV
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