# assume

/əˈsum/ (US) · /ɐsˈuːm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/assume
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. to suppose without proof

verb · CEFR B1

to think that something is true, even though you do not have certain proof.

For teachers: to accept something as true or as certain to happen, even without proof or formal verification.

- 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.

### 2. to take on a role or duty

verb · CEFR B2 · Formal

to begin to have a particular job, responsibility, or power.

For teachers: to take on or begin to exercise a role, duty, or responsibility. Transitive; requires a direct object.

- 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.

### 3. to take on a quality or appearance

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary · Academic

to start to have a particular quality, look, or way of behaving.

For teachers: to take on a particular quality, appearance, or characteristic, often one that is not natural or permanent.

- 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.

### 4. to pretend or feign

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Literary

to pretend to have a feeling or a way of behaving that is not real.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- I assume you are coming to the party tonight.
- Scientists often assume that the laws of physics are the same everywhere in the universe until they find evidence otherwise.
- While it is tempting to assume that technological progress automatically leads to social improvement, history suggests that the relationship between the two is far more complicated and less predictable.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.