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

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Recent Examples of postulate
Noun
Another postulates that sleep removes waste from the brain. Shayla Love, New Yorker, 18 Feb. 2026 Euclid’s postulates for geometry; various schemes for standardizing arithmetic. Quanta Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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 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, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for postulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for postulate
Noun
  • Here is a brief overview and judgement calls of several garden insects that challenge our assumptions about who belongs in which column.
    Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026
  • As with any heat metric, calculating the heat index involves making some assumptions about the person and the conditions around them.
    Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • Sources told Rolling Stone that Stevie Nicks, a longtime friend of Swift, will be present at the ceremony — and another said that the singer-songwriter would perform on the special day.
    Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • In a press release, Bonta reiterated his commitment to combating hate in California, and said the data obtained are accessible and critical to stopping such crimes in the state.
    Jazmin Alvarado, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Germ theory also emerged in the late 1800s, in which scientists discovered that germs caused disease.
    Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
  • The two budding geniuses would sit in Charles’ apartment for hours, talking music theory and analyzing records, though Jones’s curiosity occasionally exhausted Charles.
    Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 3 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
  • The interest rate hypothesis points the wrong direction — the most rate-sensitive occupations, like construction, have the lowest AI exposure.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 June 2026
  • Science is designed to estimate risk, test hypotheses, identify patterns, and reduce the likelihood of false causal inference.
    Alex Smolak, STAT, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Creativity, though, presumes a background in classic technique onto which a personal point of view is added.
    Laura Clawson, JSTOR Daily, 3 July 2026
  • Although it has not been announced, it is presumed that Dixon will sign with Arrow McLaren beginning with the 2027 season.
    Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • One ring found Thursday was engraved with characters believed to be Bhrami script, an ancient Indian writing system.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
  • In the Darnytskyi district, several multistory buildings were damaged and people were believed to be buried in the rubble.
    Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • That’s why some people are hypothesizing that vitamin D can slow aging.
    Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 28 June 2026
  • Despite having a brain not much bigger than a chimp, researchers hypothesized that Homo naledi, as the species was named, deliberately buried its dead in the confines of the cave.
    Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 24 June 2026

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“Postulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/postulate. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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