Adjective The room had a suspect odor. since she was carrying no cash or credit cards, her claim to the store's detectives that she had intended to pay for the items was suspectNoun One suspect has been arrested. She is a possible suspect in connection with the kidnapping. The prime suspect for the food poisoning is the potato salad. Verb He's suspected in four burglaries. The police do not suspect murder in this case. The fire chief suspects arson. I suspect it will rain. Call the doctor immediately if you suspect you've been infected. The latest research confirms what scientists have long suspected. I suspect she's not who she says she is. “We haven't done our homework.” “I suspected as much.” I suspected his motives in giving me the money. I have reason to suspect her sincerity when she makes promises like that. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Hadfield said a suspect was not immediately identified and an investigation was ongoing.San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Sep. 2022 The boy was taken at about 6:50 p.m. by a 24-year-old suspect who is the boy’s father, police say. Cliff Pinckard, cleveland, 19 Sep. 2022 Traffic camera video shows the fatal collision involving a Chicago Police Department vehicle pursuing a suspect through a red light. Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2022 No arrests have been made, and police have not released information on a possible suspect. Tristan Balagtas, Peoplemag, 19 Sep. 2022 Detectives were investigating to develop information about a potential suspect. Camila Pedrosa, The Arizona Republic, 19 Sep. 2022 Stephen Dillard, 27, became a suspect in the case, and officers obtained an arrest warrant. Remington Miller, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2022 Officers were called Sunday morning by a family member of a male suspect with 11 warrants for arrest, four felony warrants and seven misdemeanor warrants, said San Antonio Police Chief William McManus. Elizabeth Sander, San Antonio Express-News, 18 Sep. 2022 Baltimore Police said a 17-year-old suspect approached Brogden in a parking lot behind the school, started arguing with him and fired multiple rounds. Ngan Ho, Baltimore Sun, 17 Sep. 2022
Verb
Detroit is offering vaccines to city residents who have been exposed to the monkeypox virus or to those who suspect they have been exposed. Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 5 Aug. 2022 Surveillance footage shows a man, who officers suspect was Harding, walking out of the Little Caesars Pizza and lifting his shirt when a car was passing by. Angela Cordoba Perez, The Arizona Republic, 29 July 2022 Additionally, people who suspect having experienced adverse effects after consuming this honey should seek medical guidance from a doctor. Chris Smith, BGR, 19 July 2022 Parents who suspect their child may have been exposed to lead should talk to their pediatrician about getting a blood lead test, according to federal health officials. Kate Gibson, CBS News, 19 July 2022 Police suspect a former youth minister may have had inappropriate contact with up to 30 boys, according to two Bentonville detectives. Tracy Neal, Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2022 Some may suspect, with good reason, that the modus operandi of the entertainment industry now is to create experiences that not only amuse but indoctrinate. John Anderson, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022 Detectives suspect the shooting was gang-related, but released few additional details. Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Aug. 2022 Health officials suspect the child was infected with Naegleria fowleri. Rebekah Riess, CNN, 18 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin suspectus, from past participle of suspicere
Verb
Middle English, from Latin suspectare, frequentative of suspicere to look up at, regard with awe, suspect, from sub-, sus- up, secretly + specere to look at — more at sub-, spy