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assume
[uh-soom]
verb (used with object)
to take for granted or without proof.
to assume that everyone wants peace.
to take upon oneself; undertake.
to assume an obligation.
to take over the duties or responsibilities of.
to assume the office of treasurer.
to take on (a particular character, quality, mode of life, etc.); adopt.
He assumed the style of an aggressive go-getter.
to take on; be invested or endowed with.
The situation assumed a threatening character.
to pretend to have or be; feign.
to assume a humble manner.
to appropriate or arrogate; seize; usurp.
to assume a right to oneself; to assume control.
to take upon oneself (the debts or obligations of another).
Archaic., to take into relation or association; adopt.
verb (used without object)
to take something for granted; presume.
assume
/ əˈsjuːm /
verb
(may take a clause as object) to take for granted; accept without proof; suppose
to assume that someone is sane
to take upon oneself; undertake or take on or over (a position, responsibility, etc)
to assume office
to pretend to; feign
he assumed indifference, although the news affected him deeply
to take or put on; adopt
the problem assumed gigantic proportions
to appropriate or usurp (power, control, etc); arrogate
the revolutionaries assumed control of the city
Christianity (of God) to take up (the soul of a believer) into heaven
Other Word Forms
- assumer noun
- assumable adjective
- overassume verb (used with object)
- preassume verb (used with object)
- reassume verb (used with object)
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of assume1
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Multiple representatives called out Patel for not releasing the so-called “Epstein files,” a position for which he advocated forcefully before assuming his current role.
His turn in “Indecent Proposal” as the wealthy man who offers to rent his employee’s wife lives on as shorthand for tycoons who assume they can buy whatever, and whoever, they want.
"It would be naive to assume that there isn't a downside... If companies just use AI to find efficiencies, we're not going to see the upside to the UK economy or any economy."
When something so essential to our American life has always been there, it’s natural to assume that it is always will be there.
That means time spent taking new product photos, updating marketing and listings, communicating with clients about the change — and that’s assuming the product is good quality.
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Related Words
When To Use
Assume and presume have very similar meanings—they both mean to suppose that something is true without being able to confirm it. Assume, however, usually implies that the conclusion reached by the person doing the assuming is not based on much. Presume, on the other hand, often implies that the conclusion is based on something a bit stronger, such as some evidence or past situations in which the same thing happened.For example, you might presume that someone will be attending a meeting because they always attend and you have no reason to think they won’t be there. The word assume could also be used in this scenario, but it’s most likely to be used in situations in which there was less of a reason to have come to a certain conclusion. For example, you might assume something about someone you’ve just met based only on how they look (which is never a good idea).A good way to remember this difference in how the two words are used is that the prefix pre- in presume means “before”—when you presume things, you’re often basing that presumption on something that has happened before. As for assume, well, we’ll just assume you know a good way of remembering how it’s used.Assume and presume also have a few meanings that don’t overlap. Assume can mean to take on, adopt, or be endowed with something, as in I don’t want to assume any new responsibilities. Presume can mean to undertake or do something without permission or justification, as in I don’t presume to speak for the entire class.Here are examples of assume and presume used correctly in a sentence.Example: I assumed you knew what you were doing when you volunteered to bake the cake, but apparently I shouldn’t have.Example: I presumed, based on your resume, that you knew how to work with this software.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between assume and presume.
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