Definitions for assume
əˈsumas·sume

Princeton's WordNet(1.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. assume, presume, take for grantedverb

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

   "I assume his train was late"

2. assume, adopt, take on, take oververb

   take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities

   "When will the new President assume office?"

3. assume, acquire, adopt, take on, takeverb

   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. bear, take over, accept, assumeverb

   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. assume, take, strike, take upverb

   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. assume, usurp, seize, take over, arrogateverb

   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. simulate, assume, sham, feignverb

   make a pretence of

   "She assumed indifference, even though she was seething with anger"; "he feigned sleep"

8. assumeverb

   take up someone's soul into heaven

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

9. wear, put on, get into, don, assumeverb

   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"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. assumeverb

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

   We assume that, as her parents were dentists, she knows quite a bit about dentistry.

2. assumeverb

   To take on a position or duty.

   Mr. Jones will assume the position of a lifeguard until a proper replacement is found.

3. assumeverb

   To adopt an idea or cause.

4. Etymology: From assumo, from ad- + sumo.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. To ASSUMEverb

   Etymology: assumo, Lat.

   1. To take.

   This when the various God had urg’d in vain,
   He strait assum’d his native form again. Alexander Pope.

   2. To take upon one’s self.

   With ravish’d ears,
   The monarch hears,
   Assumes the God,
   Affects to nod,
   And seems to shake the spheres. John Dryden, St. Cæcilia.

   3. To arrogate; to claim or seize unjustly.

   This makes him over-forward in business, assuming in conversation, and peremptory in answers. Jeremy Collier, of Confidence.

   4. To suppose something granted without proof.

   In every hypothesis, something is allowed to be assumed. Boyle.

   5. To apply to one’s own use; to appropriate.

   His majesty might well assume the complaint and expression of king David. Edward Hyde, b. viii.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Assumeverb

   to take to or upon one's self; to take formally and demonstratively; sometimes, to appropriate or take unjustly

2. Assumeverb

   to take for granted, or without proof; to suppose as a fact; to suppose or take arbitrarily or tentatively

3. Assumeverb

   to pretend to possess; to take in appearance

4. Assumeverb

   to receive or adopt

5. Assumeverb

   to be arrogant or pretentious; to claim more than is due

6. Assumeverb

   to undertake, as by a promise

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Assume

   as-sūm′, v.t. to adopt, take in: to take up, to take upon one's self: to take for granted: to arrogate: to pretend to possess.—v.i. to claim unduly: to be arrogant.—adjs. Assum′able, Assump′tive, that may be assumed.—adv. Assum′ably, presumably.—adj. Assumed′, appropriated, usurped: pretended: taken as the basis of argument.—advs. Assum′edly, Assum′ingly.—adj. Assum′ing, haughty: arrogant. [L. assumĕre—ad, to, sumĕre, sumptum, to take.]

Matched Categories

1. • Act
   • Change
   • Dress
   • Move

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'assume' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2597

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'assume' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2008

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'assume' in Verbs Frequency: #205

Anagrams for assume »

1. amuses

2. Seamus

How to pronounce assume?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say assume in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of assume in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of assume in Pythagorean Numerology is: 6

Examples of assume in a Sentence

1. Kai Hibbard:

   The hotel will report to them if you leave your room, they assume you’re going to talk to other contestants.

2. Vincenzo Scarpetta:

   The problem with Sturgeon's plan is that she appears to assume that if there's a referendum on Scottish independence before Brexit, then Scotland can remain a member of the European Union, this is a legal headache for Europe. Clearly the European Commission's position is that in cases of secession, the newly created state would have to apply from scratch.

3. Sara Riley:

   I don't think it is a coincidence that he is coming to Iowa as opposed to, say, Arizona, where I assume they also have community colleges.

4. President Trump:

   They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.

5. Claes Larsson:

   We assume the market in two to three years will be weaker than today. We are extra cautious right now about factoring in today's price levels in projects we start today.

Popularity rank by frequency of use