Main Entry:

as·sume

Pronunciation:

\ə-ˈsüm\

Function:

transitive verb

Inflected Form(s):

as·sumed; as·sum·ing

Etymology:

Middle English, from Latin assumere, from ad- + sumere to take — more at consume

Date:

15th century

1 a: to take up or in : receive b: to take into partnership, employment, or use2 a: to take to or upon oneself : undertake <assume responsibility> b: put on, don c: to place oneself in <assume a position>3: seize, usurp <assume control>4: to pretend to have or be : feign <assumed an air of confidence in spite of her dismay>5: to take as granted or true : suppose <I assume he'll be there>6: to take over (the debts of another) as one's own

— as·sum·abil·i·ty \-ˌsü-mə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— as·sum·able \-ˈsü-mə-bəl\ adjective

— as·sum·ably \-blē\ adverb

synonyms assume, affect, pretend, simulate, feign, counterfeit, sham mean to put on a false or deceptive appearance. assume often implies a justifiable motive rather than an intent to deceive <assumed an air of cheerfulness around the patients>. affect implies making a false show of possessing, using, or feeling <affected an interest in art>. pretend implies an overt and sustained false appearance <pretended that nothing had happened>. simulate suggests a close imitation of the appearance of something <cosmetics that simulate a suntan>. feign implies more artful invention than pretend, less specific mimicry than simulate <feigned sickness>. counterfeit implies achieving the highest degree of verisimilitude of any of these words <an actor counterfeiting drunkenness>. sham implies an obvious falseness that fools only the gullible <shammed a most unconvincing limp>.