Meaning & use
abeyance
A state of temporary suspension or inactivity, with the expectation that something will resume later.
See it in a sentence
The merger talks were held in abeyance until the government finished its review.
Construction remained in abeyance for months while the permits worked through city hall.
A note on using this word
Abeyance almost always follows "in" or "into," as in "held in abeyance," and belongs to formal or legal registers.
Words with a similar meaning
suspensiondormancy
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
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