YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

abeyance

Noun

IPA /əˈbeɪəns/

Understand it. Say it. Use it.

UNDERSTAND THE WORD

Meaning in plain English

A temporary pause in an activity or plan, with the possibility of continuing it later.

SAY IT ALOUD

Pronunciation

abeyance/əˈbeɪəns/

PICTURE THE IDEA

See the meaning

Follow the idea

A plan is ready to begin
Work is temporarily put on hold
It may resume when conditions change

A plan in abeyance is paused rather than necessarily cancelled forever.

SEE IT IN EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Examples in context

Read the examples aloud. Notice how the word fits the sentence, then think of a situation of your own.

Our plans to move abroad are in abeyance until we sell the house.
The research project remains in abeyance while the team seeks funding.

MAKE IT STICK

Quick word quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the word?

Complete the example using the word from this lesson.

Our plans to move abroad are in ________ until we sell the house.

Show the answer

abeyance — A temporary pause in an activity or plan, with the possibility of continuing it later.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “abeyance” about your own life.

Your sentence (optional)

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

A temporary pause in an activity or plan, with the possibility of continuing it later.

Compare: Our plans to move abroad are in abeyance until we sell the house.

Check the spelling and how the word fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

Self-review only. Your sentence is not automatically marked, saved or submitted.

This quiz is for practice. To save lesson completion on this device, complete the checks in the app.

Word origin

From Old French abeance, a term connected with aspiring to a title.

Did you know?

Abeyance normally appears in the phrase in abeyance, rather than on its own.

Explore related words

Open a word’s lesson when available, or explore entries that use the related term.

Make the word your own

Say the word aloud and read an example sentence.
Write a new sentence about something familiar to you.
Cover the meaning and try explaining the word in your own words.

Continue with the app’s practice check, then try a sentence of your own to mark this word complete.

Practise this word in the app

Completion and saved words stay in this browser on this device.