# suppose

/səˈpoʊz/ (US) · /sʌpˈəʊz/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to think or believe

verb · CEFR A2

to think that something is likely true, even if you do not have all the facts.

For teachers: to assume or believe something to be the case based on probability rather than certain knowledge.

- I suppose we should start cooking dinner if the guests are arriving soon.
- I suppose the flight has been delayed, given that the departure board hasn't updated in over forty minutes.

Usage: Often used as a parenthetical or a tag in conversation to soften a statement.

### 2. to imagine a situation

verb · CEFR B1

to imagine what might happen in a particular situation.

For teachers: to consider something as a possibility for the sake of argument or imagination.

- Suppose you won the lottery tomorrow—what would you do first?
- Suppose for a moment that the initial findings were flawed; how would that impact the rest of the research project?

Usage: Frequently used in the imperative form to introduce a hypothetical scenario.

### 3. to be expected to

verb · CEFR A2

to be required or expected to do something because of a rule or plan.

For teachers: to be required or expected to behave in a particular way based on rules, arrangements, or social duty.

- You are supposed to take your shoes off before entering the house.
- The committee was supposed to submit the final report last Tuesday, but several members requested an extension to review the data.

Usage: Always used in the passive voice followed by a 'to' infinitive.

Teaching tip: Learners often forget the 'd' at the end of 'supposed' in this construction because it is often silent in fast speech.

## Examples

- I suppose we should start getting ready for the party.
- Since the lights are off and the car is gone, I suppose they went out for dinner.
- One might suppose that increasing the budget would solve the problem, but historical data suggests that structural changes are far more effective than simple capital injections.

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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.