assume

[ uh-soom ]

verb (used with object)

, as·sumed, as·sum·ing.

1. to take for granted or without proof:

   to assume that everyone wants peace.

   Synonyms: presuppose, posit, postulate, suppose

2. to take upon oneself; undertake:

   to assume an obligation.

3. to take over the duties or responsibilities of:

   to assume the office of treasurer.

4. to take on (a particular character, quality, mode of life, etc.); adopt:

   He assumed the style of an aggressive go-getter.

5. to take on; be invested or endowed with:

   The situation assumed a threatening character.

6. to pretend to have or be; feign:

   to assume a humble manner.

7. to appropriate or arrogate; seize; usurp:

   to assume a right to oneself; to assume control.

8. to take upon oneself (the debts or obligations of another).
9. Archaic. to take into relation or association; adopt.

verb (used without object)

, as·sumed, as·sum·ing.

1. to take something for granted; presume.

assume

/ əˈsjuːm /

verb

1. may take a clause as object to take for granted; accept without proof; suppose

   to assume that someone is sane

2. to take upon oneself; undertake or take on or over (a position, responsibility, etc)

   to assume office

3. to pretend to; feign

   he assumed indifference, although the news affected him deeply

4. to take or put on; adopt

   the problem assumed gigantic proportions

5. to appropriate or usurp (power, control, etc); arrogate

   the revolutionaries assumed control of the city

6. Christianity (of God) to take up (the soul of a believer) into heaven

Derived Forms

• asˈsumer, noun
• asˈsumable, adjective

Other Words From

• as·sumer noun
• over·as·sume verb (used with object) overassumed overassuming
• preas·sume verb (used with object) preassumed preassuming
• reas·sume verb (used with object) reassumed reassuming

Word History and Origins

Origin of assume¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English (from Anglo-French assumer ), from Latin assūmere “to take to, adopt,” equivalent to as- “toward” + sūmere “to take up”; as-, consume

Word History and Origins

Origin of assume¹

C15: from Latin assūmere to take up, from sūmere to take up, from sub- + emere to take

Synonym Study

See pretend.

Example Sentences

Should the Democrats succeed with most or all of the nominations, Trump will have around just 20 judicial vacancies to fill upon assuming office in January.

From Salon

The researchers assumed the brain's frontal cortex, which orchestrates complex thoughts and behaviors, was somehow communicating to a brainstem region called the medulla, which controls automatic breathing.

From Science Daily

Don’t just assume the flowers that are there today will be available next week.

From Los Angeles Times

But there’s an overt subtext too that might elevate the movie for those unfamiliar with the show, who had maybe assumed it was a sweet and frothy musical comedy.

From Los Angeles Times

While “September 5” has assumed new, and not entirely welcome, resonance since Oct.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accept
• conclude
• consider
• estimate
• expect
• guess
• infer
• presume
• speculate
• suspect
• think
• understand

Assume vs. Presume

What's the difference between assume and presume?

Assume and presume have very similar meanings—they both mean to suppose that something is true without being able to confirm it. Assume, however, usually implies that the conclusion reached by the person doing the assuming is not based on much. Presume, on the other hand, often implies that the conclusion is based on something a bit stronger, such as some evidence or past situations in which the same thing happened.

For example, you might presume that someone will be attending a meeting because they always attend and you have no reason to think they won’t be there. The word assume could also be used in this scenario, but it’s most likely to be used in situations in which there was less of a reason to have come to a certain conclusion. For example, you might assume something about someone you’ve just met based only on how they look (which is never a good idea).

A good way to remember this difference in how the two words are used is that the prefix pre- in presume means “before”—when you presume things, you’re often basing that presumption on something that has happened before. As for assume, well, we’ll just assume you know a good way of remembering how it’s used.

Assume and presume also have a few meanings that don’t overlap. Assume can mean to take on, adopt, or be endowed with something, as in I don’t want to assume any new responsibilities. Presume can mean to undertake or do something without permission or justification, as in I don’t presume to speak for the entire class.

Here are examples of assume and presume used correctly in a sentence.

Example: I assumed you knew what you were doing when you volunteered to bake the cake, but apparently I shouldn’t have.

Example: I presumed, based on your resume, that you knew how to work with this software.

Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between assume and presume.

Quiz yourself on assume vs. presume!

Is assume or presume the better choice in the following sentence?

We don’t know anything, so we shouldn’t _____ anything.