Definition of postulatenext
as in assumption
something taken as being true or factual and used as a starting point for a course of action or reasoning one of the postulates that the true agnostic rejects is the assumption that it is even possible for us to know whether God exists

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of postulate
Noun
Euclid’s postulates for geometry; various schemes for standardizing arithmetic. Quanta Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026 That postulate would justify racial quotas or preferences to remedy racial discrimination uncorroborated by credible evidence. Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Now, building on their previous research, the Curtin and Sheffield Hallam University scientists postulate that the movement of the altar stone may have involved a combination of human and glacial transport. Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 5 June 2026 There’s no point postulating a soul that might rise beyond the reach of artificial illumination, because the very vault of the Universe is inscribed with radiant diagrams. Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for postulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for postulate
Noun
  • There’s an assumption that the second half is Shakespeare’s, but scholars continue to quarrel over attribution.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
  • While Gaetz and Pizzo have fought for the family’s reunification, some of Zuraff’s family members have spoken out and said lawmakers are making assumptions about the case without knowing the full circumstances.
    Romy Ellenbogen Herald, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Michael Strain, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, a center-right think tank, said Trump would be repeating the same policy mistake as his predecessor, Democratic former President Joe Biden.
    BILL BARROW, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Hong Kong and central Chinese authorities say the laws were necessary to restore stability in the city after months of anti-government protests in 2019 that sometimes turned violent.
    Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 11 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Such theories were substantiated less than half an hour into his debut against Arsenal.
    Aston Villa, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Kirby applied his theory most prominently in June 2021, when United placed the largest aircraft order in its history, even as its passenger numbers remained far below pre-pandemic levels.
    Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • On the other hand, some royal enthusiasts believe Meghan won’t be as reckless as people assume.
    Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Rather than assuming one is more affordable or comprehensive than the other, compare the specific coverages, exclusions, deductibles, premiums and repair-shop requirements between any two plans.
    Brian Sloan, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • But by Friday evening, when Elsinore had its world premiere in Telluride, I was forced to revise my hypothesis.
    Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Moran plans to put that hypothesis to the test in about a month in a clinical trial for patients with colorectal, breast, and head and neck cancers who are undergoing chemotherapy.
    Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Prosecutors emphasized that the charges are allegations and that Singh is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Still other explanations presume that the gods’ artistic representations in ritual settings are the basis of the meaning of their multiform appearances.
    Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • By the time Wade was making his decision, league sources said, there was an inkling that the Sixers’ pursuit of Brown had become serious enough that those involved believed there was a legitimate chance a deal could happen.
    Tony Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Perhaps some voters will decide not to vote, believing the election is a fait accompli.
    Cal Thomas, Arkansas Online, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • In 1899, ornithologist Richard McGregor observed myrtle warblers wintering in coastal California, and hypothesized that these birds might breed in Alaska and British Columbia.
    Stephanie Szarmach, The Conversation, 8 Sep. 2026
  • For astronauts, researchers hypothesize that increased radiation exposure during spaceflight speeds up atherosclerosis, the narrowing of arteries implicated in heart attacks and strokes.
    Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Postulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/postulate. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on postulate

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster