assume

verb

as·​sume ə-ˈsüm 

assumed; assuming

transitive verb

1

a

: to take to or upon oneself : undertake

assume responsibility

b

: to place oneself in

assume a position

2

: seize, usurp

assume control

3

: to pretend to have or be : feign

assumed an air of confidence in spite of her nervousness

4

: to take as granted or true : suppose

I assume he'll be there.

5

: to take over (the debts of another) as one's own

6

: put on, don

Mrs. Fairfax assumed her best black satin gown, her gloves, and her gold watch.

—Charlotte Brontë

7

a

: to take up or in : receive

b

: to take into partnership, employment, or use

assumability

ə-ˌsü-mə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

assumable

ə-ˈsü-mə-bəl 

adjective

assumably

ə-ˈsü-mə-blē 

adverb

Did you know?

The Difference Between Assume and Presume

Assume and presume both mean "to take something for granted" or "to take something as true," but the words differ in the degree of confidence the person assuming or presuming has. Presume is used when someone is making an informed guess based on reasonable evidence. Assume is used when the guess is based on little or no evidence.

Presume functions a little differently in the legal catchphrase "presumed innocent until proven guilty." That sense of presume is separately defined as "to suppose to be true without proof." It is based on the fact that legal systems grant a defendant the presumption of innocence, thereby placing the burden of proof on the prosecution.

Synonyms

• accept
• shoulder
• bear
• undertake

Choose the Right Synonym for assume

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

Examples of assume in a Sentence

I assumed he was coming, so I was surprised when he didn't show up.

She assumed from his expression that he was confused.

We'll be arriving around noon. That's assuming that our flight is on time.

The king assumed the throne when he was very young.

Under certain conditions, the chemical will assume the appearance of ice.

Recent Examples on the Web

Her sister struggled for years with substance use, leading their mother to assume custody of her sister's two children. —Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Oct. 2025

Vernengo said the reclassification of drug dealers as terrorists has led many in the region to assume that there is a push for a possible invasion of Venezuela, whose neighbors have no choice but to have a relationship with the United States. —Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025

The chair of Paul, Weiss is Brad Karp, who assumed the role at the comparatively young age of forty-eight. —Fabio Bertoni, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025

Best to assume that whatever my past, in this case the world has treated me kindly. —Literary Hub, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 7a

Rhymes for assume

• backroom
• ballroom
• barroom
• bathroom
• bedroom
• boardroom
• bridegroom
• classroom
• cloakroom
• consume
• costume
• courtroom

Kids Definition

assume

verb

as·​sume ə-ˈsüm 

assumed; assuming

1

: to take upon oneself

assume control

assumed the presidency

2

: take on sense 3, receive

it assumes greater importance now

3

: to pretend to have or be : put on

immediately assumed a look of innocence

4

: to take as true : suppose

I assumed he knew

Legal Definition

assume

transitive verb

as·​sume

assumed; assuming

1

: to voluntarily take upon oneself

assume a risk

2

: to take over (the debts or obligations of another) as one's own

assume a mortgage