variants
or less commonly premiss
1
a
: a proposition antecedently supposed or proved as a basis of argument or inference
specifically
: either of the first two propositions of a syllogism from which the conclusion is drawn
b
: something assumed or taken for granted : presupposition
2
premises also premisses plural
: matters previously stated
specifically
: the preliminary and explanatory part of a deed or of a bill in equity
3
premises also premisses plural
[from its being identified in the premises of the deed]
a
: a tract of land with the buildings thereon
b
: a building or part of a building usually with its appurtenances (such as grounds)
premised; premising
1
a
: to set forth beforehand as an introduction or a postulate
b
: to offer as a premise in an argument
2
3
: to base on certain assumptions
Examples of premise in a Sentence
Noun
Called behavioral ecology, it starts from the premise that social and environmental forces select for various behaviors that optimize people's fitness in a given environment. Different environment, different behaviors—and different human "natures."
—
Sharon Begley, Newsweek, 29 June 2009
Although the Voting Rights Act served, in some measure, to formalize the notion of racial representation, its consequences undermined its premise—that a transparency of interests existed between the representative and the represented.
—Henry Louis Gates, Jr., New Yorker, 24 Oct. 1994
Thirty years ago the modesty of the general expectation was still consistent with the original American premise of self-government.
—Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, November 1992
They were asked to leave the premises.
The company leases part of the premises to smaller businesses.
The premises were searched by the police.
He disagreed with her premise.
the basic premises of the argument
a theory based on the simple premise that what goes up must come down
Verb
Niebuhr … adhered to a form of liberalism more premised on a realistic assessment of human nature than Rauschenbusch's naïve progressivism was.
—Alan Wolfe, New York Times Book Review, 21 Oct. 2007
Fears of a nuclear holocaust were fueled by President Nixon's "madman" theory of diplomacy. The madman theory was premised on the assumption that if the Soviets thought that Nixon was crazy enough to drop the bomb, they would leave us alone.
—Will Manley, Booklist, 1 & 15 June 2006
let us premise certain things, such as every person's need for love, before beginning our line of reasoning
Sharon Begley, Newsweek, 29 June 2009
Although the Voting Rights Act served, in some measure, to formalize the notion of racial representation, its consequences undermined its premise—that a transparency of interests existed between the representative and the represented.
—Henry Louis Gates, Jr., New Yorker, 24 Oct. 1994
Thirty years ago the modesty of the general expectation was still consistent with the original American premise of self-government.
—Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, November 1992
They were asked to leave the premises.
The company leases part of the premises to smaller businesses.
The premises were searched by the police.
He disagreed with her premise.
the basic premises of the argument
a theory based on the simple premise that what goes up must come down
Verb
Niebuhr … adhered to a form of liberalism more premised on a realistic assessment of human nature than Rauschenbusch's naïve progressivism was.
—Alan Wolfe, New York Times Book Review, 21 Oct. 2007
Fears of a nuclear holocaust were fueled by President Nixon's "madman" theory of diplomacy. The madman theory was premised on the assumption that if the Soviets thought that Nixon was crazy enough to drop the bomb, they would leave us alone.
—Will Manley, Booklist, 1 & 15 June 2006
let us premise certain things, such as every person's need for love, before beginning our line of reasoning
Recent Examples on the Web
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
Despite its morbid premise, the movie is lighthearted and humorous while exploring the relationship between families and their pets.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
For instance, an injunction to stop a company from polluting a lake is premised on the idea that damage to a lake and the life in it is irreparable.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for premise
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show current usage.
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Noun
This continued with House of Cards and the wild premise of Designated Survivor; the windows thicker, security more intense and morals much murkier.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
Despite its morbid premise, the movie is lighthearted and humorous while exploring the relationship between families and their pets.
—Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
Fine dining, as a genre, is premised on exclusivity and scarcity, the sense that money functions as a private code.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
For instance, an injunction to stop a company from polluting a lake is premised on the idea that damage to a lake and the life in it is irreparable.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for premise
Cite this Entry
“Premise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/premise. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
premise
1 of 2 noun
prem·ise
ˈprem-əs 
1
: a statement taken to be true and used as a basis for argument or reasoning
2
plural
a
: a piece of land with the buildings on it
b
: a building or part of a building usually with its grounds
premise
2 of 2 verb
pre·mise
ˈprem-əs
pri-ˈmīz
premised; premising
: to base on certain assumptions
a conclusion premised on stereotypes
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