Word
assume
Phoneticsas·sume, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈsum/
UK/ɐsˈuːm/
Definitions
01to suppose without proof
B1 · Intermediate
v. to think that something is true, even though you do not have certain proof.
v. to accept something as true or as certain to happen, even without proof or formal verification.
日本語:想定する※
“I assumed you were coming to the party because I saw your name on the list.”
“Psychologists often assume that early childhood experiences significantly shape adult personality, though this premise is frequently debated in modern research.”
Pitfall
I assumed about his arrival.
I assumed he had arrived.
The verb 'assume' usually takes a 'that' clause or a direct object, not the preposition 'about'.
02to take on a role or duty
B2 · Upper Intermediate Formal
v. to begin to have a particular job, responsibility, or power.
v. to take on or begin to exercise a role, duty, or responsibility. Transitive; requires a direct object.
日本語:就く※
Español:asumir
“The vice president will assume the role of director starting next month.”
“Upon the sudden resignation of the CEO, the chief operating officer was forced to assume full control of the company's daily operations.”
Antonyms
03to take on a quality or appearance
C1 · Advanced Literary · Academic
v. to start to have a particular quality, look, or way of behaving.
v. to take on a particular quality, appearance, or characteristic, often one that is not natural or permanent.
Español:asumir
“The problem assumed a new importance after the latest news report.”
“As the sun began to set, the desert landscape assumed a deep purple hue that made navigation difficult for the returning scouts.”
04to pretend or feign
C2 · Proficiency Formal · Literary
v. to pretend to have a feeling or a way of behaving that is not real.
v. to adopt a feigned quality or manner, often to deceive others.
“He assumed an air of confidence to hide how nervous he actually felt.”
“The spy assumed a false identity, complete with forged documents and a convincing backstory, to infiltrate the high-security facility.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “assume” in context.
Verb
01. assume existence
“Many philosophical theories assume the existence of a higher power.”
verb + noun
02. assume importance
“Environmental issues have assumed great importance in recent political debates.”
verb + noun
03. assume position
“The new CEO will assume his position at the beginning of the fiscal year.”
verb + noun
04. assume responsibility
“The government must assume responsibility for the failure of the new policy.”
verb + noun
05. assume role
“She is ready to assume the role of team leader starting next month.”
verb + noun
Noun
06. model assume
“The economic model assumes that consumer spending will remain stable.”
noun + verb
Adverb
07. commonly assume
“People commonly assume that all students have access to the internet at home.”
adv + verb
08. generally assume
“Scientists generally assume that the laws of physics are the same everywhere.”
adv + verb
09. implicitly assume
“The contract implicitly assumes that both parties will act in good faith.”
adv + verb
10. mistakenly assume
“I mistakenly assumed the meeting was on Friday, but it was actually on Thursday.”
adv + verb
11. normally assume
“We normally assume that the delivery will take three to five business days.”
adv + verb
12. similarly assume
“Other researchers similarly assume that the data is accurate for their models.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“It makes sense to assume a teen is using a chatbot because this is most likely the case.” “But it offers a warning against assuming that a small fee will have a small effect.” “They assume that my ambition is a title or a seat.” Etymology
From Latin assūmō (“accept, take”), from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + sūmō (“take up, assume”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Idioms
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/assume
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0