suppose

sup·pose

verb \sə-ˈpōz, oftenest after “I ” ˈspōz\

sup·posedsup·pos·ing

Definition of SUPPOSE

transitive verb

1

a : to lay down tentatively as a hypothesis, assumption, or proposal <suppose a fire broke out> <suppose you bring the salad>

b (1) : to hold as an opinion : believe <they supposed they were early> (2) : to think probable or in keeping with the facts <seems reasonable to suppose that he would profit>

2

a : conceive, imagine

b : to have a suspicion of

3

: presuppose

intransitive verb

: conjecture, opine

Examples of SUPPOSE

1. Suppose a fire broke out. How would we escape?
2. Just suppose for a moment that you agreed with me.
3. Supposing he refuses to help, what do we do then?
4. The renovations will cost much more than we originally supposed.

Origin of SUPPOSE

Middle English, from Anglo-French supposer, from Medieval Latin supponere (perfect indicative supposui), from Latin, to put under, substitute, from sub- + ponere to put — more at position

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SUPPOSE

Synonyms

calculate, call, conjecture, figure, gauge (also gage), guess, judge, make, place, put, reckon, estimate

Related Words

conclude, deduce, extrapolate, gather, infer, reason, understand

Near Antonyms

calibrate, measure, scale; compute, work out

Rhymes with SUPPOSE

appose, bluenose, brownnose, compose, depose, dextrose, disclose, dispose, dog rose, enclose, expose, foreclose, fructose, glucose, hardnose, impose, Montrose, moss rose, musk rose, old rose, oppose, primrose, propose, pug nose, repose, rockrose, transpose, tuberose, unclose, viscose, wind rose