Meaning of suppress in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /səˈprɛs/

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  1. Verb

    suppress

    Etymology

    late Middle English: from Latin suppress-‘pressed down’, from the verb supprimere, from sub-‘down’ + premere‘to press’

    Definitions

    1. to put down by force or authority

    Examples

    • « suppress a nascent uprising »
    • « stamp down on littering »
    • « conquer one's desires »

    Derived terms

  2. 2. come down on or keep down by unjust use of one's authority

    Examples

    • « The government oppresses political activists »

    Derived terms

  3. 3. control and refrain from showing

    Examples

    • « of emotions »

    Derived terms

  4. 4. keep under control

    Examples

    • « keep in check »
    • « suppress a smile »
    • « Keep your temper »
    • « keep your cool »

    Derived terms

  5. 5. put out of one's consciousness

    Derived terms

Famous quotes

  • « Society has taught us to suppress certain things and not do certain things. »
    Kesha
  • « Books and all forms of writing are terror to those who wish to suppress the truth. »
    Wole Soyinka
  • « I think we're all good and bad, but good's not funny. Bad is funny. Suppress the good and let the bad out, and then you can be funny. »
    Larry David
  • « A celibate clergy is an especially good idea, because it tends to suppress any hereditary propensity toward fanaticism. »
    Carl Sagan
  • « Ideas are only lethal if you suppress and don't discuss them. Ignorance is not bliss, it's stupid. Banning books shows you don't trust your kids to think and you don't trust yourself to be able to talk to them. »
    Anna Quindlen

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