as in suspension
a state of temporary inactivity
our weekend plans were held in abeyance until we could get a weather forecast
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abeyance
On the trade front, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Busan for a summit which saw tariffs trimmed, soybeans purchases promised, and rare earth controls put in abeyance for a year, with some sketchy deal details — tricks up the sleeves of the two economic giants?
—
Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Carroll requested during Wednesday’s meeting that the board either reject the charges or hold them in abeyance until the litigation between The Trap and the city is resolved.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025
That threat was only held in abeyance by his signature; the commission needed to ratify it to fully spike the governor’s guns.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025
In the latest development, on June 27, 2025, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a supplementary award in favor of Pakistan, arguing that India’s holding of the treaty in abeyance did not affect its jurisdiction over the case.
—Pintu Kumar Mahla, The Conversation, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for abeyance
Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Carroll requested during Wednesday’s meeting that the board either reject the charges or hold them in abeyance until the litigation between The Trap and the city is resolved.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 14 Aug. 2025
That threat was only held in abeyance by his signature; the commission needed to ratify it to fully spike the governor’s guns.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2025
In the latest development, on June 27, 2025, the Permanent Court of Arbitration issued a supplementary award in favor of Pakistan, arguing that India’s holding of the treaty in abeyance did not affect its jurisdiction over the case.
—Pintu Kumar Mahla, The Conversation, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for abeyance
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abeyance
Noun
-
Shaban dismissed the New York suspension as a relatively minor, administrative oversight.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
3 Apr. 2026
-
One charge is his second DWI offense, a Class A misdemeanor in Texas that can carry jail time, fines and a driver’s license suspension of between six months and two years.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But what else is there to be said about a game devoid of suspense and that did nothing to abate fears that the Padres’ starting pitching will be its Achilles.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Despite the issues with the production, namely the too-tame suspense at times, this is a sharp cast of veterans.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abeyance.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abeyance. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
