WordGarden.iosuppress
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /səprˈɛs/
US
- /səˈprɛs/
Meanings
Verb
to prevent, stop, or hold back something from being expressed, happening, or developing
to keep information, evidence, or discussion from being made public or openly expressed
to keep protest, dissent, or resistance under control by force or official restriction
More meaningsFewer meanings
to hold back a feeling, reaction, or impulse instead of showing it
to reduce or stop a bodily function, symptom, or biological response, often with medicine
to prevent a program or device from showing a message, warning, or other output
Beyond the definition
Imagine something trying to rise, speak, or break out. To suppress it is to push it down or keep it under control. It is not just about stopping something by chance; it involves an active effort to prevent it from being seen, felt, or expressed. You might suppress a yawn in a meeting, suppress a cough in a quiet room, or see a government suppress dissent by trying to silence opposing voices. People also suppress feelings like anger, fear, or sadness, keeping them inside instead of showing them. The word often suggests pressure, control, and something that is being held back.
To suppress something means to forcibly put an end to it, hold it back, or restrain its expression. It implies a deliberate effort to keep something under control, often something that is powerful, unwanted, or considered dangerous.
The word comes from the Latin supprimere, meaning "to press down." Think of pressing down on a spring: you are not destroying it, but you are keeping it from rising. That image fits many common uses of suppress. A government might suppress protests by using force or strict rules. A person might suppress a cough, a yawn, a laugh, or a strong emotion in order to avoid showing it. Medicine can also suppress pain, appetite, or the body's natural response to something.
Suppress is not used only for public actions or physical reactions. It can also describe inner control. People may suppress anger, fear, grief, or desire, trying not to let those feelings show. In psychology, the word can also be used for keeping thoughts or memories out of conscious attention, though that is a more specialized use.
However, suppress is different from simply ignoring something. Ignoring is passive; suppression involves active control. You might ignore a small irritation, but suppress a dangerous impulse, an unwelcome reaction, or a rebellious movement. So, whether it is about controlling a bodily response, silencing opposition, reducing a symptom, or holding back emotion, suppress describes the deliberate act of keeping something down, quiet, or under control.
Examples
- 1
Holding back laughter
She tried to suppress a laugh during the meeting.
- 2
Hiding disappointment
He couldn't suppress his disappointment when he read the email.
- 3
Medical symptoms
The drug helps suppress the symptoms, but it doesn't cure the disease.
- 4
Appetite control
Some medicines can suppress your appetite.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Hidden evidence
The report suggested that officials had suppressed important evidence.
- 6
Political opposition
The government used force to suppress political opposition.
- 7
Painful memories
For years, she suppressed memories of the accident.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- suppress a smile
- suppress evidence
- suppress dissent
- suppress symptoms
Word family
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Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- suppressverb
Forms
- suppressedpast tenseverb
- suppressing-ing formverb
- suppressesverb