suspense

Language: en

🇬🇧 /səˈspɛns/ 🇺🇸 /səˈspɛns/

📖 Definitions

  1. noun
    A state of mental uncertainty, anxiety, or anticipation regarding the outcome of an event or situation.; A feeling of excited anticipation about something that is about to happen, often involving danger or mystery.; The temporary suspension or cessation of something; a state of being held in abeyance.; A literary or dramatic genre characterized by tension, excitement, and uncertainty about what will happen next.

🔗 Details

Word forms

uncountable

Collocations

in suspensekeep someone in suspensebuild suspensecreate suspenseheighten suspensesuspense novelsuspense thriller

Derivatives

suspensefulsuspensivelysuspensionsuspendsuspendersuspensory

Synonyms

anticipationtensionanxietyuncertaintyapprehensionnervousness

Antonyms

certaintycalmrelaxation

Commonly confused

suspension
EN: 'Suspension' refers to the act of suspending something or a vehicle's shock-absorbing system; 'suspense' refers to the feeling of anxious anticipation.
suspenseful
EN: 'Suspenseful' is the common adjective meaning full of suspense; 'suspensive' is rare and mainly used in legal contexts.

Spelling tips

EN: Do not confuse 'suspense' with 'suspension.' The common adjective form is 'suspenseful,' not 'suspensive.'

💬 Examples

  1. The audience was kept in suspense until the very end of the film.

  2. She could barely bear the suspense of waiting for the exam results.

  3. The project was held in suspense pending further funding.

  4. He is a master of suspense, writing novels that keep readers on the edge of their seats.