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to suspect

to suspect

382 3.7
To believe someone is guilty of a crime without proof
  • verb
  • /səˈspɛkt/
translation icon : sospechar de
  • D'Abo's activities come to the attention of the FBI, who suspect the cult of kidnapping and firearm offenses.
  • suspected of crimes
  • suspected child abuse
  • suspected of killing

I play a detective that suspects or doesn't suspect Patrick Bateman.

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Examples

  • All right, send me the name of the person you suspect is the mole.

  • No foul play is suspected in the teen's disappearance.

  • I n a small town, people will always suspect the worst of someone.

  • We strongly suspect that the answer is yes.

  • So why do some scientists suspect that such a strange object exists?

  • Frankly, Mrs. Dietrichson, we suspect... a suicide.

  • There were only a few initial complaints issued by Iraqis about suspected U.S. violations of the agreement.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Patients can be anxious and alarmed by their symptoms, often suspecting they have a serious medical condition.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The detective started to suspect that the suspect was lying about his alibi.

  • During the investigation, they began to suspect that someone had tampered with the evidence.

Compounds

A person believed to have killed someone but not proven guilty

A person police think stole things from a shop or house

2 6.5

A person people think forced someone to have sex

How Certain

to believe
1.0
to suspect
382 3.7
to think
1.0
to wonder
1.0

Surface Forms

suspect infinitive
suspected past
suspected past participle
suspecting present participle
suspects third person singular

Etymology

Suspect comes from the Latin parts sub- ('under') and specere ('to look'), which gives the idea of watching or looking secretly. So to suspect someone is to believe they may be guilty without clear proof.