postulate 1 of 2

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

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postulate

2 of 2

verb

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
That postulate would justify racial quotas or preferences to remedy racial discrimination uncorroborated by credible evidence. Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 5 Mar. 2026 Another postulates that sleep removes waste from the brain. Shayla Love, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
That has led some scientists to postulate that dark matter could be partially or wholly accounted for by primordial black holes. Robert Lea, Space.com, 10 Apr. 2026 Scientists postulate that dolphins’ social nature and seeming empathy can release chemical endorphins in people who interact with them, creating a tremendous feeling of well-being. David McGrath, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for postulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for postulate
Noun
  • The first is the buy-back clause Real Madrid insisted upon when Paz was sold to Como; the assumption is that it will eventually be activated.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 3 June 2026
  • Pla2na/Getty Images Many Americans spend decades building a retirement plan around the simple assumption that their monthly Social Security benefits will provide a reliable source of income no matter what happens with their finances or the economy.
    Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • Roughly 35 horses bolted through city streets following the unexpected fireworks, the outlet said.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
  • The Medical Investigator’s Office is likely to determine the cause and manner of death, police said.
    Dennis Romero, NBC news, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • Even a middle school student would perceive a stark difference between someone who voices a bogus theory and someone who acts on it.
    DP Opinion, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
  • In theory, that should be a straightforward fix.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • Pack further assumed that anyone with valuable information about Guthrie’s alleged kidnapping is likely not sleeping well these days.
    Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 4 June 2026
  • Because the world assumes that all people are heteronormative and cisgenger, kids can often be on the back foot when talking about their relationships and identity.
    Taylor Grothe, Parents, 4 June 2026
Noun
  • One leading hypothesis suggests the polar ice was delivered during a relatively recent impact by a water-rich comet or asteroid — possibly in scale and age to the one that carved Hokusai crater, a prominent 60-mile-wide (97-kilometer-wide) crater in Mercury's northern hemisphere.
    Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 28 May 2026
  • There are three primary hypotheses for how birds might sense Earth’s geomagnetic field.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • The submarine never returned from patrol and was officially presumed lost after failing to report back to Midway in July 1944.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 2026
  • You are presumed to be not guilty.
    Peter D'Oench, CBS News, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • In a hard-to-believe stat, Monte Vista scored 17 runs with just five RBIs.
    Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026
  • The team believes the approach could eventually support technologies like highly sensitive quantum sensors and other next-generation devices.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • This lack of centralized authority has led archaeologists to hypothesize about what the house-like mega-structures might reveal regarding their social and political organization.
    Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 30 May 2026
  • Thornton hypothesized at the time.
    Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 26 May 2026

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“Postulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/postulate. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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