Showing results for "assuming"

• present participle of assume.

assuming

American  

[uh-soo-ming] / əˈsu mɪŋ /

adjective

1. taking too much for granted; presumptuous.

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assuming British  

/ əˈsjuːmɪŋ /

adjective

1. expecting too much; presumptuous; arrogant

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conjunction

1. (often foll by that) if it is assumed or taken for granted (that)

   even assuming he understands the problem, he will never take any action

Other Word Forms

• self-assuming
  adjective
• assumingly
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of assuming

First recorded in 1595–1605; assume + -ing ²

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Explanation

If someone accuses you of being assuming, he or she thinks you are arrogant or that you take too much for granted. If you take on an assuming tone when you ask for something, people are more likely to feel offended than to be generous. A person who is quiet and modest is often described approvingly as being unassuming. That person's conceited cousin, with an inflated opinion of himself and a strong sense of entitlement, is more of an assuming sort. You can also use this word as a conjunction. Assuming we leave at 9:00 a.m. and there is little traffic, we should arrive in the late afternoon.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

assuming

It’s also close to where I live so that’s convenient and, assuming they’re open, you can go have a drink or food at Musso and Frank after, which is perfect.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

British Athletics doctors ran tests that gave no answers, so she carried on, assuming it was lingering glandular fever that would eventually pass.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

You could leave each of her children $108,000, which is more than generous, and reimburses them for the money your aunt gave you out, with interest, assuming that the down payment reduced their inheritance.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026

Rather than assuming that one diagnosis corresponds to one underlying pattern of brain activity, the findings suggest that depression can involve markedly different biological changes, sometimes even in opposite directions.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 9, 2026

But even assuming he left it there, in a place where we could find it, that meant waiting six or seven hours.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

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