Suspense

/səˈspɛns/

Meaning & Definition

noun

A state of feeling excited or anxious about what may happen next.

The movie was filled with suspense, keeping the audience on the edge of their seats.

A quality in a literary work that arouses excited expectation or uncertainty about what may happen.

The author skillfully built suspense throughout the novel, leading to a shocking climax.

The condition of being undecided or uncertain.

There was a sense of suspense in the air as the results of the election were announced.

From Middle English, from Old French 'suspens', from Latin 'suspensio'.

suspense build-up

The gradual increase of tension leading to a climax.

leave in suspense

To keep someone uncertain about what will happen next.

suspenseful moment

A critical point in a story that creates tension or uncertainty.

tension

Mental or emotional strain.

anticipation

Expectation or prediction of something.

drama

A situation or sequence of events that is exciting and full of conflict.

Nail-biter

That last scene was a real nail-biter, full of suspense.

Page-turner

The book was such a page-turner, I couldn't put it down because of the suspense.