suspense

[suh-spens]

noun

1. a state or condition of mental uncertainty or excitement, as in awaiting a decision or outcome, usually accompanied by a degree of apprehension or anxiety.

2. a state of mental indecision.

3. undecided or doubtful condition, as of affairs.

   For a few days matters hung in suspense.

4. the state or condition of being suspended.

suspense

/ səˈspɛns /

noun

1. the condition of being insecure or uncertain

   the matter of the succession remained in suspense for many years

2. mental uncertainty; anxiety

   their father's illness kept them in a state of suspense

3. excitement felt at the approach of the climax

   a play of terrifying suspense

4. the condition of being suspended

Other Word Forms

• suspenseful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of suspense¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin suspēnsum deferment, suspension, uncertainty, noun use of neuter of Latin suspēnsus hung up, doubtful, in suspense (past participle of suspendere to hang up, leave undecided), equivalent to sus- sus- + pēnsus ( pend-, stem of pendere (translation) to hang ( pend ) + -tus past participle suffix, with dt > s )

Word History and Origins

Origin of suspense¹

C15: from Medieval Latin suspensum delay, from Latin suspendere to hang up; see _suspend

Example Sentences

By late in the third quarter, the only suspense remaining in UCLA’s 43-10 blowout loss to Utah was waiting for the announced attendance.

From Los Angeles Times

You couldn’t call his “Thursday Murder Club” nuanced, and it’s almost completely without suspense, but in the simplest terms, it fulfills the assignment.

From Los Angeles Times

That extended moment of suspense gives her the killing edge in this category.

From Los Angeles Times

And for Hawley, who was 9 when the first film debuted, his relationship to “Alien” has always been rooted in childhood and suspense.

From Los Angeles Times

The mystery can never linger too long without a wildly conspicuous hint at what’s really happening, or a bit of sudden shock comedy to diffuse the suspense.

From Salon

Related Words

• anxiety 
• apprehension 
• confusion 
• doubt 
• insecurity 
• tension 
• thriller 
• uncertainty