Suspense

Suspense is a state of mental uncertainty, anxiety, or excitement, as in awaiting a decision or outcome. It's the feeling of anticipation as the plot thickens in a story, a situation, or a performance. This emotional state arises from the build-up of curiosity, and the delay or withholding of information, creating a desire to know what will happen next. Suspense engages the audience's emotions and can be used to create tension, fear, and anticipation. It hinges on the unknown and the potential consequences of actions. Successfully employed Suspense hooks the reader or viewer, keeping them engaged and invested in the unfolding events until the climax or resolution.

Suspense meaning with examples

• The movie expertly used suspense. As the detective crept through the darkened house, the audience was on the edge of their seats, the sound design amplifying every creak and whisper. We were unsure of what lurked within, left to the unknown fate that hung with a deadly curiosity of what was around the next corner.
• Her novel was a masterclass in suspense. The author carefully introduced clues, red herrings, and cliffhangers, leaving the reader guessing until the very end. Each chapter ended with a new revelation, prompting the reader to frantically turn the page and seek the answers to the questions being presented in front of them.
• The election results created intense suspense. As the votes were tallied, the candidates watched with bated breath, and citizens followed the results with a palpable feeling of anxiety and anticipation over the outcome and the future that awaited their decisions.
• The surgeon worked with focused precision to the sounds of intense drama. The surgical team’s teamwork and silence created a palpable suspense. The family members, anxiously awaiting the news of their loved one's fate, experienced a mixture of hope and dread as they were left to the Suspense of fate.