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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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
In 1905, Einstein had postulated that the speed of light is constant in a vacuum and independent of the observer’s motion. Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 24 Apr. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for postulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for postulate
Noun
  • Other research pointed in the same direction, and by 2008, Falk and other exercise physiologists were arguing against the status-quo assumption that kids had some major natural deficits in thermoregulation.
    Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 11 July 2026
  • Success increasingly depends on a leader’s ability to navigate cultural differences, foster inclusion, and build trust among people whose assumptions, communication styles, and expectations may vary dramatically.
    Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Verb
  • By applying sunscreen before heading outdoors, reapplying throughout the day and pairing it with other forms of sun protection, Mercer said people can reduce their risk of sunburn, premature skin aging and skin cancer.
    Kaitlyn Harvey, AJC.com, 17 July 2026
  • Abbott said last year’s disaster reshaped how the state responds to floods.
    Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • One theory is that English and European voices provide an air of authority, even legitimacy, to a sport which, while embraced by millions in America, is still ‘foreign’, certainly when compared to NFL, baseball and basketball.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • Speculation was rife; one unproven theory was that someone had heated the sensor with a hairdryer.
    Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Verb
  • Some Cuba watchers are skeptical Rodríguez Castro could assume a leading role in the official government.
    Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • Vahidi, who assumed the role after his predecessor Mohammad Pakpour was killed in US-Israeli strikes on the first day of the war, is rarely seen in public.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • Feynman was a graduate student there at the time and threw himself into the debate with gusto, even devising an experiment in the cyclotron laboratory to test his hypothesis.
    Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 13 July 2026
  • Finally, the paper acknowledges that the study’s interviewer was not blind to the C9 status of its participants and went in with a specific hypothesis—circumstances that risk bias.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 13 July 2026
Verb
  • Lee is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
    Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 13 July 2026
  • Finally, another Chinese satellite — presumed to be purpose-built for inspections — parked itself in the cluster, and near another US military communications satellite.
    Gerry Doyle, Fortune, 13 July 2026
Verb
  • Wardlaw, a homeless man who prosecutors said frequently slept on the Greenbelt and believed people on scooters were after him, was held in custody without bond.
    Carolyn Komatsoulis Updated July 13, Idaho Statesman, 14 July 2026
  • Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood), who co-wrote the legislation that expanded the film and television tax credit, says that the cap appears to have been an oversight, and that members believed the film program was exempt.
    Gio Insignares, CBS News, 14 July 2026
Verb
  • Like with kiwis, some experts hypothesize that something beyond just fiber helps prunes act on constipation.
    Sarah Klein, Time, 10 July 2026
  • This skewing has been hypothesized as a contributor to the variability in symptoms of Marfan in families with the same mutation.
    Roxanne Khamsi, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

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“Postulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/postulate. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

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