posit

verb

pos·​it ˈpä-zət How to pronounce posit (audio)
posited ˈpä-zə-təd How to pronounce posit (audio)
ˈpäz-təd
; positing ˈpä-zə-tiŋ How to pronounce posit (audio)
ˈpäz-tiŋ

transitive verb

1
: to dispose or set firmly : fix
2
: to assume or affirm the existence of : postulate
3
: to propose as an explanation : suggest

Examples of posit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The authors posit that the boats could have reached the sea by floating about 23 miles down the River Arone. Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2024 At its most basic, the chemtrails conspiracy theory posits that contrails are not created by water vapor at all, but instead are a sign that the government, the wealthy, or some mix of the two, is secreting toxic chemicals into the air, creating these white lines. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 People posit several reasons, namely that tech magnates are interested in supporting other issues like health care and that Hollywood moguls are more skittish about parting with their fortunes, given their firsthand experience with the ups and downs of the entertainment industry. Soumya Karlamangla, New York Times, 1 Mar. 2024 From prison, Navalny sent her love letters, often positing the missives on his social media. Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2024 While some theories were posited in jest, others appeared to be shared in earnest. Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 1 Mar. 2024 On Thursday, however, Singh posited that if the baby did, indeed, die of a drug overdose, her mother may be to blame. Julia Prodis Sulek, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024 Schultz, however, posits that fame can be a bit of an addiction in itself. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 24 Feb. 2024 Some posit the nerveless current to be less than parklike. Jay Pilgreen, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'posit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin positus, past participle of ponere

First Known Use

1647, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of posit was in 1647

Dictionary Entries Near posit

Cite this Entry

“Posit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/posit. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on posit

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!