suspense

An excited or worried feeling while waiting to learn what happens next.

• The film was full of suspense.
• We waited in suspense for her answer.
• The author builds suspense by hiding the killer’s identity.

How to use it: in suspense (We waited in suspense for the result.); keep someone in suspense (Don’t keep me in suspense; tell me who won.)

Similar words: tension, anticipation

Common phrases: in suspense, build suspense, keep someone in suspense

A state of hanging from something, or of being temporarily stopped.

• The weight was held in suspense.
• Proceedings stayed in suspense until the judge returned.
• The mechanism kept the object in suspense above the ground.

How to use it: in suspense (The proceedings remained in suspense while the court considered the appeal.)

Similar words: suspension

Common phrases: held in suspense, in suspense

The time by which an assigned task must be finished.

• The suspense is noon tomorrow.
• Please submit the report before its suspense date.
• The unit missed the suspense for that assignment.

How to use it: a suspense of something (The assignment has a suspense of Friday noon.)

Similar words: deadline

Common phrases: suspense date, suspense of noon, meet the suspense