- present participle of assume.
assuming
Americanadjective
adjective
conjunction
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of assuming
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.
Vocabulary lists containing assuming
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This summer, it began broadcasting the name Ruby, assuming the identity of a vessel scrapped in 2018 in an apparent effort to keep operating under the radar, Douglas said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
But it offers a warning against assuming that a small fee will have a small effect.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
"The results at some were literally off the scale and will have a big impact in professional circles, assuming they cannot continue to try to ignore them now," he said.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
A more helpful perspective comes from assuming for the moment that midcaps are a distinct asset class, and then comparing their returns with those of small- and large-cap stocks.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
He marries Gudrun; then, assuming through Griemhild’s magical power the appearance of Gunnar, he rides through the flames again to win Brynhild for Gunnar, who is not hero enough to do this himself.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
