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

Etymology

Origin of assuming

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

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

The two men Bayoumi was assuming legal responsibility for - Nawaf al-Hazmi and Khalid al-Mihdhar - would become 9/11 hijackers.

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

Estimates churned out by the Congressional Budget Office usually start by assuming a 5% VAT rate.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026

But assuming it does go back to the account owner’s or to a deceased beneficiary’s estate, it will also go through probate.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 26, 2026

James argues that this explanation is more parsimonious than assuming the brain contains what he calls "a higher-level, central controller that monitors and regulates sensory and motor processes."

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

“I’m assuming that doesn’t mean what I think it does,” Jack said, his eyes narrowed to slits as he watched the prince daintily break off another piece of bread.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley