What does suspense mean?
Suspense is the uneasy excitement or anxiety that comes from not knowing what will happen next. It often develops when an outcome is uncertain, a decision is delayed, or important information is withheld. In stories, films, and games, suspense is a structural effect created by postponing a revelation and allowing tension to accumulate. In ordinary conversation, the word can refer to the experience of waiting for an important result, such as an announcement or a medical diagnosis. Although the word can suggest excitement and curiosity, it usually also carries an undertone of anxiety and strain. “In suspense” is one of its most familiar expressions, meaning that someone is waiting eagerly and worriedly for an outcome. The related word “suspension” refers to an interruption or to something being held in place, while “suspense” focuses on the emotional tension produced by uncertainty.
nounA feeling of uncertainty, excitement, or anxiety arising from a situation whose outcome is unknown. Suspense can also refer to the deliberate withholding of information that creates this feeling.
- A feeling of uncertainty, anxiety, or excited anticipation caused by an uncertain outcome or the withholding of information.
- A state of being held in suspense, especially in a dramatic or narrative situation where the resolution is delayed.
"The audience watched in suspense as the judges announced the winner."
"The detective novel builds suspense by revealing each clue only when the reader can use it."
"The score remained 0–0, and the final minutes were filled with suspense."
The plural is uncommon; the word is normally used as an abstract noun and is often not pluralized.
"The story contains several moments of suspense."
Suspense turns not knowing what happens next into suspense: the longer the answer is delayed, the greater the tension.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does suspense come from?
The word comes through Old French suspense, derived from Latin suspensio, a noun meaning “a hanging” or “delay,” related to suspensus, “suspended” or “held up.” English began using the word in the late 16th century, initially in contexts involving delay or interruption, before it developed its modern sense of anxious or excited uncertainty. Its close relatives, including suspend, suspension, and suspended, preserve the same Latin root associated with hanging or being held up.
How suspense is actually used
The noun is common in both British and US English. In literary and film contexts, it describes the deliberate postponement of a revelation or resolution; in everyday use, it more generally denotes anxious anticipation.
Easily confused with suspense
Suspense is a feeling of uncertainty or excitement, whereas a suspension is an interruption, delay, or the state of being held or prevented from moving.