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
Synonyms
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
See More
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
See More
Recent Examples on the WebWendy Bowman, Robb Report, 15 Nov. 2023
The basic premise remains, however, the same: a second chance life tale that doubles down on the unexpected, as the female protagonist’s life plan is thrown a curveball by a male figure who seems her complete opposite.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 13 Nov. 2023
The Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of the hospital, claiming armed groups were using its premises and surroundings.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2023
This is the premise behind Yeti in My Spaghetti, a fun and straightforward tabletop game that doesn’t have a ton of rules but is surprisingly difficult to win.
—Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 8 Nov. 2023
In the past three months, Oncor connected about 20,000 additional premises in its service territory and built, rebuilt and upgraded about 630 miles of transmission and distribution lines.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2023
In this case, though, the very premise of the show finds itself at odds with the Sheridan house style.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2023
That is the intriguing premise of Michael Chabon’s 2007 novel The Yiddish Policemen’s Union.
—Jack Butler, National Review, 4 Nov. 2023
The action and brutality have been turned up, with scenes such as one in which Pooh brandishes a chainsaw on fire, while the sequel also hopes to maintain the enjoyable ridiculousness of the entire premise (there’s a scene involving a game of Poohsticks but using body parts instead of sticks).
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Nov. 2023
Albert Samaha, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2023
This might seem impossibly distant in the present moment, but the only way forward is premised on the equal rights of Palestinians and Israelis.
—Curbed, 20 Oct. 2023
Unlike the Abraham Accords—which mostly sidestepped Palestine—a Saudi-Israel agreement would reportedly be premised on the idea of accepting some modest gestures from Israel regarding its treatment of Palestinians.
—Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 13 Oct. 2023
The state’s cap-and-trade system is premised on big polluters, including oil and gas drillers, buying up permits that correspond to emissions avoided through the protection of its vast forests.
—Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 27 Sep. 2023
After all, the show is premised on the idea that one person in a couple issues an ultimatum to their partner, telling them to either propose or take a hike.
—Korin Miller, Women's Health, 24 Aug. 2023
The film is premised on the idea that Barbie and Ken visit the human world where men are in charge and Ken, relishing his treatment in a patriarchal society, sets out to try and turn Barbieland into one.
—Eliza Anyangwe and Melissa Mahtani, CNN, 3 Aug. 2023
Alyshia Lord, an attorney specializing in personal injury and premises liability litigation, has joined Gomez Trial Attorneys’ San Diego office.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 July 2023
This may be premised on the false belief that renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, can completely replace nuclear and coal on the path to zero carbon emissions.
—James Broughel, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2023
See More
Noun
The widow of legendary comedian Rodney Dangerfield, who passed away in 2004 due to heart surgery complications, plucked up the premises some 18 years ago for $6.25 million.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 15 Nov. 2023
The basic premise remains, however, the same: a second chance life tale that doubles down on the unexpected, as the female protagonist’s life plan is thrown a curveball by a male figure who seems her complete opposite.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 13 Nov. 2023
The Israeli military has ordered the evacuation of the hospital, claiming armed groups were using its premises and surroundings.
—Mithil Aggarwal, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2023
This is the premise behind Yeti in My Spaghetti, a fun and straightforward tabletop game that doesn’t have a ton of rules but is surprisingly difficult to win.
—Dorian Smith-Garcia, Parents, 8 Nov. 2023
In the past three months, Oncor connected about 20,000 additional premises in its service territory and built, rebuilt and upgraded about 630 miles of transmission and distribution lines.
—Rob Nikolewski, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2023
In this case, though, the very premise of the show finds itself at odds with the Sheridan house style.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2023
That is the intriguing premise of Michael Chabon’s 2007 novel The Yiddish Policemen’s Union.
—Jack Butler, National Review, 4 Nov. 2023
The action and brutality have been turned up, with scenes such as one in which Pooh brandishes a chainsaw on fire, while the sequel also hopes to maintain the enjoyable ridiculousness of the entire premise (there’s a scene involving a game of Poohsticks but using body parts instead of sticks).
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Nov. 2023
Verb
Its foundation left it sinking 18 inches within a decade of opening in 2009, turning it into a satirical symbol of a tech boom premised on the Mark Zuckerberg ideal of moving fast and breaking things.
—Albert Samaha, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2023
This might seem impossibly distant in the present moment, but the only way forward is premised on the equal rights of Palestinians and Israelis.
—Curbed, 20 Oct. 2023
Unlike the Abraham Accords—which mostly sidestepped Palestine—a Saudi-Israel agreement would reportedly be premised on the idea of accepting some modest gestures from Israel regarding its treatment of Palestinians.
—Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 13 Oct. 2023
The state’s cap-and-trade system is premised on big polluters, including oil and gas drillers, buying up permits that correspond to emissions avoided through the protection of its vast forests.
—Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 27 Sep. 2023
After all, the show is premised on the idea that one person in a couple issues an ultimatum to their partner, telling them to either propose or take a hike.
—Korin Miller, Women's Health, 24 Aug. 2023
The film is premised on the idea that Barbie and Ken visit the human world where men are in charge and Ken, relishing his treatment in a patriarchal society, sets out to try and turn Barbieland into one.
—Eliza Anyangwe and Melissa Mahtani, CNN, 3 Aug. 2023
Alyshia Lord, an attorney specializing in personal injury and premises liability litigation, has joined Gomez Trial Attorneys’ San Diego office.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 July 2023
This may be premised on the false belief that renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, can completely replace nuclear and coal on the path to zero carbon emissions.
—James Broughel, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'premise.' 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
Noun and Verb
in sense 1, from Middle English premisse, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin praemissa, from Latin, feminine of praemissus, past participle of praemittere to place ahead, from prae- pre- + mittere to send; in other senses, from Middle English premisses, from Medieval Latin praemissa, from Latin, neuter plural of praemissus
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of premise was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing premise
Articles Related to premise
Dictionary Entries Near premise
Cite this Entry
“Premise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/premise. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on premise
Nglish: Translation of premise for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of premise for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about premise
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share