Home / Dictionary / Assume

Assume Very Common

Assume has 10 different meanings across 1 category:

Verb

Definitions
Verb
1

take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof

"I assume his train was late"

2

take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities

"When will the new President assume office?"

3

take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect

"His voice took on a sad tone"

"The story took a new turn"

"he adopted an air of superiority"

"She assumed strange manners"

"The gods assume human or animal form in these fables"

4

take on as one's own the expenses or debts of another person

"I'll accept the charges"

"She agreed to bear the responsibility"

5

occupy or take on

"He assumes the lotus position"

"She took her seat on the stage"

"We took our seats in the orchestra"

"She took up her position behind the tree"

"strike a pose"

6

seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession

"He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town"

"he usurped my rights"

"She seized control of the throne after her husband died"

7

make a pretence of

"She assumed indifference, even though she was seething with anger"

"he feigned sleep"

8

take up someone's soul into heaven

"This is the day when Mary was assumed into heaven"

9

put clothing on one's body

"What should I wear today?"

"He put on his best suit for the wedding"

"The princess donned a long blue dress"

"The queen assumed the stately robes"

"He got into his jeans"

10

To authenticate by means of belief; to surmise; to suppose to be true, especially without proof

"She assumed that her friend was coming to dinner based on a single text message, even though he never actually arrived."

In plain English: To assume means to take something for granted without having proof that it is true.

"He assumed that everyone had received the invitation and left for the party early."

Usage: Use assume to mean taking something for granted or supposing it is true without sufficient evidence. Do not confuse this with the act of putting on clothing or adopting a specific behavior.

Example Sentences
"He assumed that everyone had received the invitation and left for the party early." verb
"She assumed that the meeting would start on time without any confirmation." verb
"You should not assume everyone agrees with your opinion just because they stayed silent." verb
"The company assumes full responsibility for delivering the package by Friday." verb
Related Terms
Broader Terms (hypernyms)
expect take office change take move dissemble receive dress
Narrower Terms (hyponyms)
presuppose resume re-assume face the music annex appropriate preoccupy hijack raid play feint hat try on scarf slip on

Origin

The word comes from the Latin assūmō, meaning "to accept" or "take." It is formed by combining ad- ("to") with sūmō ("to take up").

Rhyming Words
ume yume cume dume fume hume kume jaume neume blume flume brume glume spume plume heaume bitume effume insume legume
Compare
Assume vs