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Definition of suspend verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

suspend

verb
 
/səˈspend/
 
/səˈspend/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they suspend
 
/səˈspend/
 
/səˈspend/
he / she / it suspends
 
/səˈspendz/
 
/səˈspendz/
past simple suspended
 
/səˈspendɪd/
 
/səˈspendɪd/
past participle suspended
 
/səˈspendɪd/
 
/səˈspendɪd/
-ing form suspending
 
/səˈspendɪŋ/
 
/səˈspendɪŋ/
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  1. [often passive] (formal) to hang something from something else
    • be suspended from something A lamp was suspended from the ceiling.
    • be suspended by/on something Her body was found suspended by a rope.
    • be suspended by/on something from something A boat was suspended on wires from the rafters.
  2. suspend something to officially stop something for a time; to prevent something from being active, used, etc. for a time
    • Production has been suspended while safety checks are carried out.
    • The constitution was suspended as the fighting grew worse.
    • In the theatre we willingly suspend disbelief (= temporarily believe that the characters, etc. are real).
    Extra Examples
    • The EU should have the power to suspend subsidy payments to farmers who pollute the environment.
    • The government has decided to suspend production at the country's biggest lead plant.
    • Aid flights have been suspended for a week after fighting near the city's airport.
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • immediately
    • indefinitely
    • temporarily
    verb + suspend
    • agree to
    • decide to
    • vote to
    phrases
    • the power to suspend something
    See full entry
  3. suspend something to officially delay something; to arrange for something to happen later than planned
    • The introduction of the new system has been suspended until next year.
    • to suspend judgement (= delay forming or expressing an opinion)
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • immediately
    • indefinitely
    • temporarily
    verb + suspend
    • agree to
    • decide to
    • vote to
    phrases
    • the power to suspend something
    See full entry
  4. [usually passive] to officially prevent somebody from doing their job, going to school, etc. for a time, as a punishment or while a complaint against them is investigated
    • be suspended The police officer was suspended while the complaint was investigated.
    • be suspended from something She was suspended from school for a week.
    Extra Examples
    • She has been suspended on full pay following a disciplinary hearing.
    • She was suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation.
    • The players will be automatically suspended.
    • We both got suspended for fighting.
    Topics Educationc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • automatically
    • formally
    • indefinitely
    verb + suspend
    • threaten to
    preposition
    • for
    • from
    • pending
    phrases
    • be suspended on full pay
    • be suspended with pay
    • be suspended without pay
    See full entry
  5. be suspended in something
    (specialist) to float in liquid or air without moving
    • Small droplets are held suspended in the atmosphere.
  6. see also suspension
    Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French suspendre or Latin suspendere, from sub- ‘from below’ + pendere ‘hang’.
See suspend in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee suspend in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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