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Definition and meaning of English word "assume"

assume

/əˈsuːm/

Meaning

Verb

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

Reviewed by the TheLernen language teamDefinition sourced from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)

How to use

The verb 'assume' is often used in formal and academic contexts. A common learner mistake is to confuse 'assume' with 'presume', although both verbs imply taking something for granted, 'presume' often carries a stronger sense of justification. For example, 'I assume you'll be there' versus 'I presume you have the necessary qualifications'.

🇬🇧 English

assume

Example

I assume you are right

He assumes responsibility

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Synonyms

supposeto presumeto surmise

Common phrases

  • assume responsibility— to take responsibility
  • assume power— to take control
  • assume the worst— to expect the worst

More Extended Verbs words

This concept in other languages

Frequency rank: #679 in English

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the English word "assume" mean?▼

The English word "assume" means "assume" in English.

How do you pronounce the English word "assume"?▼

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "assume" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "assume"?▼

Yes, here is a practical example: "I assume you are right" (which translates as "assume").

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