Definition of Suspense

Suspense

Held or lifted up; held or prevented from proceeding.

Expressing, or proceeding from, suspense or doubt.

The state of being suspended; specifically, a state of uncertainty and expectation, with anxiety or apprehension; indetermination; indecision; as, the suspense of a person waiting for the verdict of a jury.

Cessation for a time; stop; pause.

A temporary cessation of one's right; suspension, as when the rent or other profits of land cease by unity of possession of land and rent.

Related Definitions:

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Suspense Quotations

This suspense is terrible. I hope it will last.
Oscar Wilde

Even cowards can endure hardship; only the brave can endure suspense.
Mignon McLaughlin

Luck is everything... My good luck in life was to be a really frightened person. I'm fortunate to be a coward, to have a low threshold of fear, because a hero couldn't make a good suspense film.
Alfred Hitchcock

Suspense is worse than disappointment.
Robert Burns

Suspense is very important. Even though this is humor and they're short stories, that theory of building suspense is still there.
Sergio Aragones

The suspense of a novel is not only in the reader, but in the novelist, who is intensely curious about what will happen to the hero.
Mary McCarthy

To answer that I have to describe what I think is my responsibility as a thriller writer: To give my readers the most exciting roller coaster ride of a suspense story I can possibly think of.
Jeffery Deaver

We all live in suspense from day to day; in other words, you are the hero of your own story.
Mary McCarthy

I like to compare the holiday season with the way a child listens to a favorite story. The pleasure is in the familiar way the story begins, the anticipation of familiar turns it takes, the familiar moments of suspense, and the familiar climax and ending.
Fred Rogers

The courage to imagine the otherwise is our greatest resource, adding color and suspense to all our life.
Daniel J. Boorstin

Ideally, I like to integrate the human issues into the suspense story itself.
Jeffery Deaver

In suspense novels even subplots about relationships have to have conflict.
Jeffery Deaver

I've mis-signed many a book Rollins or Clemens. My readers quickly become aware. Booksellers will often promote me under both names, and I do plug both at signings. Generally, the fantasy reader has no problem going into the suspense genre. It's harder for the typical suspense reader to go the other direction.
James Rollins

For success, the author must make the reader care about the destiny of the principals, and sustain this anxiety, or suspense, for about 100,000 words.
Ken Follett

The audience wants to be attracted not by the critics, but by a great story. You must deliver to the audience emotion - and when I say emotion, I mean suspense, drama, love.
Dino De Laurentiis

I do try not to spend much time reading in the suspense genre.
Thomas Perry

I like being scared every now and then, I like the suspense and the thrills. Nothing like taking a girlfriend to a movie and holding her hand while she jumps.
Scott Foley

I did know that the book would end with a mind-boggling trial, but I didn't know exactly how it would turn out. I like a little suspense when I am writing, too.
James Patterson

I am in suspense as to the probable or improbability of being called into the Army, a station I would prefer to any other that of being in arms to defend an injured and grossly insulted country.
John Sevier

Show me a character whose life arouses my curiosity, and my flesh begins crawling with suspense.
Fawn M. Brodie

I think suspense is a big thing.
Gina Philips

More Suspense Quotations

Suspense Translations

suspense in French is suspens
suspense in German is Spannung
suspense in Spanish is suspense

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