What does suspenseful mean?
Suspenseful means full of suspense: it describes a story, scene, performance, journey, or ending that creates excitement by keeping the audience uncertain about what will happen next. The adjective is especially common in North American English and is often used for dramatic entertainment, though it can apply to any situation involving tension and anticipation. It is more specific than simply exciting because the uncertainty must be an important part of the experience. A suspenseful ending keeps viewers engaged through unresolved questions, while a suspenseful thriller builds tension throughout its plot. In British English, speakers may prefer phrases such as 'full of suspense' or 'nail-biting,' but 'suspenseful' is also understood and used. The word is closely related to the noun 'suspense' and the adverb 'suspensefully,' all derived from the Latin root associated with hanging or suspending something.
adjectiveFull of suspense; creating a feeling of excitement and uncertainty about what will happen next.
- Full of suspense; exciting through a feeling of uncertainty about what will happen next.
"The suspenseful final episode brought several months of speculation to a dramatic conclusion."
"The cast gave a suspenseful performance in the play's most important scene."
"We waited through a suspenseful hour before the results were announced."
Suspenseful turns suspense into an experience: it names the stories, moments, and endings that keep us wondering what happens next.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does suspenseful come from?
Suspenseful was formed in the 19th century from the English noun 'suspense' plus the adjective suffix '-ful.' The noun 'suspense' comes from Latin suspensus, the past participle of suspendere, a verb based on sub- 'under' and pendere 'to hang.' The same Latin root also produced English words such as 'suspend' and 'suspension.'
Related word forms
How suspenseful is actually used
Common in North American English. In British English, fuller alternatives such as 'full of suspense' or 'thrilling' may sound more natural in formal contexts.
Easily confused with suspenseful
Suspense is the noun meaning tension or uncertainty, while suspenseful is the adjective describing something that contains suspense.