suspense
B2Neutral; common in everyday, literary, academic, and media contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A state of excited or anxious uncertainty about what may happen.
The feeling of anticipation, tension, and uncertainty experienced by an audience when awaiting the outcome of a story or event; a narrative technique designed to create this feeling; a state of temporary inaction or waiting for a decision.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an uncountable noun (a sense of suspense). Can sometimes be personified or used in a countable sense in literary analysis (e.g., 'the many suspensees of the plot').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. Pronunciation differs slightly.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US English.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + suspense: create, build, maintain, heighten, break, endsuspense + [verb]: builds, mounts, grows, is killing (someone)in + suspense: keep/hold/leave someone in suspenseVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “keep/hold somebody in suspense”
- “a nail-biter/nail-biting suspense”
- “the suspense is killing me”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used metaphorically: 'The suspense over the merger decision is affecting morale.'
Academic
Common in literary, film, and narrative studies: 'The author employs suspense as a key structural device.'
Everyday
Very common for discussing films, books, games, and real-life situations: 'I can't stand the suspense—did you get the job?'
Technical
Used in psychology and media studies to describe a cognitive and emotional state elicited by narratives.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Not applicable as a verb.
American English
- Not applicable as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
American English
- Not applicable as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- It was a real suspense novel.
- The film created a suspense atmosphere.
American English
- It was a great suspense movie.
- The book had a lot of suspense elements.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The film had a lot of suspense.
- We waited in suspense for the results.
- The suspense in the final chapter was incredible.
- Don't keep me in suspense—tell me what happened!
- The director masterfully built the suspense before the villain's reveal.
- The legal team worked in a state of suspense, awaiting the judge's ruling.
- The novel's intricate plotting and prolonged suspense exemplify the Gothic tradition.
- Psychological suspense, as a subgenre, focuses on the mental and emotional tension of characters rather than physical danger.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of SUSPENSE as being SUSPENDED in a state of anxious waiting, like hanging off a cliff in a movie.
Conceptual Metaphor
SUSPENSE IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (it builds, mounts, weighs on you); SUSPENSE IS A CONTAINER (you are in suspense); CREATING SUSPENSE IS BUILDING SOMETHING.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not directly equivalent to 'напряжение' (which is more general 'tension/strain').
- The Russian 'саспенс' is a direct borrowing used mainly for films/books.
- Avoid using 'сомнение' (doubt) or 'ожидание' (expectation/waiting) as direct translations.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable noun incorrectly: 'I felt many suspensees' (incorrect) vs. 'I felt a lot of suspense' (correct).
- Confusing with 'suspension' (the act of hanging or a temporary halt).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'suspense' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily uncountable. You do not say 'a suspense' or 'suspenses'. You say 'a feeling/sense of suspense' or 'a lot of suspense'.
Suspense is the anxious feeling of *waiting* for an unknown outcome. Surprise is the feeling caused by an *unexpected* event. Suspense is about anticipation; surprise is about the unexpected revelation.
Officially, no. The adjective is 'suspenseful'. However, in informal contexts, especially in compound nouns like 'suspense thriller' or 'suspense novel', it functions attributively.
'The suspense is killing me' is a common hyperbolic idiom expressing extreme impatience and anxiety while waiting for news.
Explore