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.
Burnham has announced a series of new measures since assuming office last week, including cuts to electricity bills and bringing the bus fare cap in most parts of England back down to £2.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
As Mr. Riley, Thomas Sowell and others often write, it is all about assuming personal responsibility.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026
Goldman’s base case is Brent averaging $80 in the last quarter of this year and $75 in 2027 – assuming de-escalation before the end of the year.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 21, 2026
Law enforcement officials say parents sometimes buy electric motorcycles for their children assuming they are like e-bikes, but e-motorcycles can reach far higher speeds than regular e-bikes and require a driver’s license.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
“Locke’s asleep,” I say, assuming that she’s waiting to see him.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
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.
