What does "assuming" mean?

1. (believing without proof) believing that something is true even if you do not have all the facts yet. 2. (if something is true) you use this to say what will happen if a specific situation is true. 3. (arrogant) acting as if you are more important or clever than other people.

assuming

v. · conj. · adj.

US //əˈsumɪŋ// UK //ɐsˈuːmɪŋ// as·sum·ing

1 believing without proof (v.)
B1 Intermediate

believing that something is true even if you do not have all the facts yet.

the present participle of 'assume', describing the act of taking something for granted or accepting it as true without proof.

Example

I was assuming you were coming to the party since you didn't say no.

Example

By assuming that the market would continue to rise indefinitely, the investors ignored several clear warning signs of an impending crash.
- presuming
- supposing
- doubting
- proving
2 if something is true (conj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

you use this to say what will happen if a specific situation is true.

used as a subordinating conjunction to introduce a condition or hypothesis upon which a subsequent statement depends.

Example

Assuming the weather stays nice, we can have the dinner outside.

Example

Assuming the board approves the budget by Tuesday, we can begin the recruitment process for the new department heads immediately.
- if
- provided that
- supposing

Show 1 more senseShow fewer

3 arrogant (adj.)
C2 Proficiency Formal Literary

acting as if you are more important or clever than other people.

characterised by an attitude of superiority or overconfidence. This sense is less common in modern speech and carries a formal tone.

Example

He had an assuming manner that made his colleagues feel uncomfortable.

Example

The young heir's assuming tone during the negotiations alienated the very partners he was supposed to impress.
- haughty
- arrogant
- presumptuous
- humble
- modest