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

Assuming it was set up as a “survivorship account,” Jim received a gift.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 17, 2026

Assuming it was a location-specific policy, the family went to an Upper East Side location next.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 16, 2026

Assuming a late-June Hormuz reopening, supply relief wouldn’t materialize until late-August and meaningful normalization would only happen in September, he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 15, 2026

Assuming it doesn’t get a government stake of its own, Anthropic may be the loser of any such deal, Luria said.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

Assuming Brooke had arrived early, I cracked the bathroom door.

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter