What is the meaning of assume?

verb

  • Take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof.
    • usage: "I assume his train was late"
  • Take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities.
    • usage: "When will the new President assume office"
  • Take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect.
    • usage: "His voice took on a sad tone"; "The story took a new turn"; "he adopted an air of superiority"; "She assumed strange manners"; "The gods assume human or animal form in these fables"
  • Take on as one's own the expenses or debts of another person.
    • usage: "I'll accept the charges"; "She agreed to bear the responsibility"
  • Occupy or take on.
    • usage: "He assumes the lotus position"; "She took her seat on the stage"; "We took our seats in the orchestra"; "She took up her position behind the tree"; "strike a pose"
  • Seize and take control without authority and possibly with force; take as one's right or possession.
    • usage: "He assumed to himself the right to fill all positions in the town"; "he usurped my rights"; "She seized control of the throne after her husband died"
  • Make a pretence of.
    • usage: "She assumed indifference, even though she was seething with anger"; "he feigned sleep"
  • Take up someone's soul into heaven.
    • usage: "This is the day when May was assumed into heaven"
  • Put clothing on one's body.
    • usage: "What should I wear today"; "He put on his best suit for the wedding"; "The princess donned a long blue dress"; "The queen assumed the stately robes"; "He got into his jeans"
12
 
|15 years ago|3k views|share |citing 
APAWordNet. (2010). assume. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from http://smartdefine.org/assume/definitions/1326441
ChicagoWordNet. 2010. "assume" http://smartdefine.org/assume/definitions/1326441 (accessed September 20, 2026).
HarvardWordNet 2010, assume, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <http://smartdefine.org/assume/definitions/1326441>.
MLAWordNet. "assume" 23 October 2010. Web. 20 September 2026. <http://smartdefine.org/assume/definitions/1326441>
{ class="autoclick" }next definition (/)