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Glite Dictionary
suspended animation

suspended animation

11 7.7
A temporary stop of heart and breathing that makes a person look dead but can be brought back
  • noun
  • /səˈspɛndɪd ˌænɪˈmeɪʃən/
: animación suspendida
  • After the accident, the patient was transported in suspended animation to prevent further harm during the journey.
  • state of suspended animation

We talk about all sorts of topics of black holes, suspended animation, exoplanets, off world societies, how to talk to aliens, and all of that.

Examples

  • To keep him from regaining his powers, they'll keep him in suspended animation.

    Black Adam (2022)

  • Put in suspended animation for the journey, she is accidentally awakened when the ship malfunctions.

    Blog text (12)

  • The past few days, she had felt as if they were all in suspended animation.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Everything was still, as though in suspended animation.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • All was held in suspended animation.

    Fiction book (1994)

  • A year and a half had passed in what Dad called "suspended animation."

    Into the Wild (2007)

  • But low temperatures may preserve life in a state of suspended animation.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • My crew will sleep away our 10-year journey there... in suspended animation.

    Lost in Space (1998)

  • For two months, the president rested in suspended animation, and the country lingered in a coma of uncertainty and grief.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • The patient has been flown in from abroad in a state of suspended animation in order to facilitate the healing of his recent limb transplants.

    Death Race 2000 (1975)

Synonyms

in stasis
vssuspended animation
12 8.1

Not moving or changing for a time

refers to a temporary medical stopping of bodily functions that makes one seem dead

Antonyms

revival
52 4.2

A return of interest or activity after a time of decline

How Alive

wakefulness
1 5.4
sleep
∞ 1.0
coma
  • Specialized
259 5.4
suspended animation
11 7.7
death
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

suspended animation singular
suspended animations plural

Morphology

suspended + animation

The phrase combines 'suspended' (paused/held) with 'animation' (liveliness/vitality), so a learner who knows both words can plausibly infer that some form of vitality is being temporarily paused. However, 'animation' is somewhat abstract and the medical/biological sense (temporary stopping of vital functions) is technical, so the exact meaning—appearing dead without permanent harm—is not fully predictable for a B1 learner without prior exposure.

Etymology

Suspended animation may come from a simple image of life being briefly 'suspended': the word animation, meaning 'movement' or 'life', is held still by suspended, so a person looks dead but is only paused. That's why it means 'when body functions stop for a short time but the person can be brought back'.