Definition

1. Noun:
   • A state of mental uncertainty and excitement about the outcome of something: "Suspense" refers to the anxious, excited feeling of waiting for something important or uncertain to happen, often regarding the resolution of a story or event.
   • A state of temporary inactivity or indecision: "Suspense" can also describe a condition where a decision, action, or legal matter is postponed or left undecided for a period.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The suspense of the final chapter kept me reading all night.
  • The court case was held in suspense pending further evidence.
  • She couldn't bear the suspense of waiting for the exam results.

Advanced Usage

• "to keep someone in suspense": To deliberately delay telling someone information they are eager to know, prolonging their anxious anticipation.
  • Don't keep me in suspense—tell me who won!
• "a state of suspense": A formal phrase describing a prolonged period of uncertainty.
  • The entire nation was in a state of suspense during the election recount.

Variants and Related Words

• Suspenseful (adj): Causing or full of suspense.
  • It was a suspenseful thriller movie.
• Suspension (n): The act of suspending or the state of being suspended. (Note: This is a related but distinct word, often used in legal, scientific, or mechanical contexts).

Synonyms

• Anticipation: The act of looking forward, especially excitedly.
• Tension: Mental or emotional strain, often arising from suspense.
• Uncertainty: The state of being unsure.

Related Phrases

• In suspense: In a state of anxious uncertainty.
  • We were left in suspense about the future of the project.
• Suspense account (n): A term in accounting for an account holding entries temporarily until they are properly classified. (This is a specialized compound term).

Related Idioms

• The suspense is killing me: A common, informal exclamation expressing that the anxiety of waiting is very intense.
  • Just announce the winner already—the suspense is killing me!

Noun

1. excited anticipation of an approaching climax
   • the play kept the audience in suspense
2. an uncertain cognitive state
   • the matter remained in suspense for several years
3. apprehension about what is going to happen