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

• assumingly
  adverb
• self-assuming
  adjective

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 fetches $400 million, the mansion tax alone would be $23.8 million.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Assuming an 8%-10% pretax margin, the project could contribute 0.04 ringgit to 0.05 ringgit to EPS over its execution period, he says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Assuming you’re in your late 40s/early 50s, this is not a good time to withdraw a large sum of money from your retirement account.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026

Assuming the 600 megawatts are contracted at $300 per kilowatt, Morgan Stanley estimates value creation of about $450 million, or $5 a share, from the data center deal.

From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026

Assuming I was from upstate, he thought I was lying.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover