assumeas‧sume /əˈsjuːm $ əˈsuːm/ ●●● S2 W1 AWL verb [transitive] 
I didn’t see your car, so I assumed you’d gone out.it seems/is reasonable to assume (that) It seems reasonable to assume that the book was written around 70 AD.somebody can safely assume that (=it is almost certain) I think we can safely assume that interest rates will go up again soon.let us/let’s assume (that) (=used when thinking about a possible event or situation and its possible results) Let us assume for a moment that we could indeed fire her. Should we?somebody/something is assumed to be (doing) something The rest of the system is assumed to be functioning well.assume the worst (=think that the worst possible thing has happened) When it got to midnight and Paul was still not back, I began to assume the worst.GRAMMARIn more formal English, you say it is assumed that something is true: · It is assumed that the person is innocent.2 assume control/responsibility etc formal to start to have control, responsibility etc or to start in a particular position or job: Whoever they appoint will assume responsibility for all financial matters. He assumed power in a bloody coup in 1990. Jim Paton will assume the role of managing director.3assume a manner/air/expression etc formal to behave in a way that does not show how you really feel, especially in order to seem more confident, happy etc than you are SYN put on: Andy assumed an air of indifference whenever her name was mentioned.4to start to have a particular quality or appearance SYN take on: These relationships assume great importance in times of crisis. The problem is beginning to assume massive proportions.5to be based on the idea that something else is correct SYN presupposeassume (that) The theory assumes that both labour and capital are mobile. Coen’s economic forecast assumes a 3.5% growth rate. → assuming
WORD ORIGINassume
Origin:
1500-1600 Latin assumere, from ad- ‘to’ + sumere ‘to take’VERB TABLE
assume
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | assume |
| he, she, it | assumes | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | assumed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have assumed |
| he, she, it | has assumed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had assumed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will assume |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have assumed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am assuming |
| he, she, it | is assuming | |
| you, we, they | are assuming | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was assuming |
| you, we, they | were assuming | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been assuming |
| he, she, it | has been assuming | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been assuming |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be assuming |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been assuming |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Assuming a carefree air, Luke picked up his jacket and walked to the door.
- Coen's economic forecast assumes a 3.5 percent growth rate.
- Her family life assumed more importance after the accident.
- I just assumed that the woman standing next to Jack was his wife.
- I think we can safely assume that the practice is legal.
- We assume that other industrialized nations are going to help with money for food and other supplies.
- When socializing with his co-workers he would assume a hearty, over-bearing manner.
- You shouldn't just assume things without getting all the facts.
- He had been to school one day and already he was using phrases and assuming roles that belonged to a different world.
- In our original study, we assumed that Mr Major could hope to win roughly one by-election in three in Tory seats.
- Mackenzie assumed direct control, with his partners in subordinate positions.
- The role of defending the Church was assumed by the lower clergy, their chief spokesman being Francis Atterbury.
- They argue that to assume the worst is often to invite disaster.
- When they saw her appear at the bedroom window, they could only assume she was all right.
- You will not succeed by assuming that decisions alone will achieve behavior change.
Longman Language Activatorto change your way of speaking or behaving in order to impress people
to speak or behave in a way that is not your usual way of speaking or behaving.: be putting it on: · He wasn't really drunk. He was just putting it on.put on something: · Whenever the boss is around she puts on this sick little smile.put on an accent: · Valerie put on a posh accent and asked to see the manager immediately.
someone who is affected is not natural or sincere because they are trying to make people think they are better than they really are: · I can't bear him -- he's so loud and affected.· That stupid affected laugh of hers really annoys me.· She treated her guests with an affected politeness.
formal to behave or speak in a way in which you do not usually behave or speak, especially so that you look more confident or feel better: · When socializing with his co-workers he would assume a hearty, over-bearing manner.· Assuming a carefree air, Luke picked up his jacket and walked to the door.
a person or their behaviour that is artificial is not natural or sincere, because they are pretending to be something that they are not: · Carter was saying all the right things, but his smile was artificial, and I knew I couldn't trust him.· On the surface she seems quite a pleasant woman, but there's something very artificial about her.
to agree to be responsible for something to agree to be responsible for something, especially something that will make you have a lot of work or pressure: take something on: · I'm very busy. I'm afraid I can't take anything else on at the moment.take on something: · Alice always seems willing to take on extra work without complaining.
formal to take responsibility for something that must be done: · The ship's owner has assumed responsibility for cleaning up the oil spill.· It was natural for Richard, as elder son, to assume responsibility for the family.
to agree to take responsibility for something that will be difficult to deal with: shoulder responsibility/debts/the cost/burdens: · The burden of supporting the poor is shouldered mainly by charities.· The company is unwilling to shoulder the cost of installing a daycare center.
to think that something is true, but not be sure to think something is true, but you are not completely sure. Believe is more formal than think: think/believe (that): · I think Jill moved to the new house last week.· "Is it painted?" "No, I think it's a mosaic."I think so/I believe so (=say this to answer "yes" to a questions when you are fairly sure that something is true): · "Has James gone home?" "Yes, I think so."
to think that something is true, although you have no proof: · You shouldn't just assume things without getting all the facts.assume (that): · I just assumed that the woman standing next to Jack was his wife.· We assume that other industrialized nations are going to help with money for food and other supplies.we can safely assume (=it is reasonably certain): · I think we can safely assume that the practice is legal.
something that you think is true although you have no proof: · Yes the Socialists will probably win -- that seems a fair assumption.make the assumption that: · At that time we had to make the assumption that the disease was spreading and take action to stop it.on the assumption that: · Eden acted on the assumption that his allies would support him.
to wrongly believe that something is true, because of something you have heard or seen: · I was under the impression that you couldn't get a parking ticket on private property.be under the mistaken impression (that): · The average American is under the mistaken impression that wildlife refuges have been set up to protect animals.
to think that something is probably true, especially something bad: suspect (that): · I suspect that he never really loved her.· No one suspected anything was wrong.as somebody suspected: · As we suspected, there is a problem with the braking system, and it will be replaced.
to feel sure that something is true because of information that you have, although there is always some possibility that you are wrong: believe (that): · Police believe that the money was stolen by a gang of youths.believe somebody to be capable/honest/a fool etc: · I had always believed Catherine to be absolutely honest in money matters.firmly believe: · Both sides firmly believe that a peace settlement is now possible.
to be fairly sure of something, especially because you have a good reason to think so, although you have no proof: presume (that): · The committee presumed that its decisions would be carried out.presume somebody/something to be somebody/something: · Many scientists presumed the new damage to the forests to be the result of higher levels of pollution.be presumed innocent/dead/responsible etc: · The defendant is presumed innocent until proved guilty.
if you say something presumably is a fact, you think it must be true because of the information you have: · Several of the villagers disappeared, presumably killed by enemy soldiers.· The audience hears the word so many times during the play that presumably they learn what it means if they didn't already know.
to think that something is probably true, especially because of some information you have - use this in written or formal contexts: suppose (that): · We have no reason to suppose that the girl is dead.· There are many reasons to suppose that Shakespeare was familiar with the stories of medieval Italy.
to be sure that something is true without ever asking yourself whether you are right or not: · I never asked if she was single - I just took it for granted.take it for granted (that): · I took if for granted that Steven would still be working for us when the new project started.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY It seems reasonable to assume that the book was written around 70 AD. Whoever they appoint will assume responsibility for all financial matters. He assumed power in a bloody coup in 1990. Jim Paton will assume the role of managing director. These relationships assume great importance in times of crisis. The problem is beginning to assume massive proportions.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES It would be naive to think that this could solve all the area’s problems straight away. I think it’s safe to say that the future is looking pretty good.
It seems reasonable to assume that the book was written around 70 AD. (=it is almost certain) I think we can safely assume that interest rates will go up again soon.
I think we can safely assume that interest rates will go up again soon. (=used when thinking about a possible event or situation and its possible results) Let us assume for a moment that we could indeed fire her. Should we?
Let us assume for a moment that we could indeed fire her. Should we? (=think that the worst possible thing has happened) When it got to midnight and Paul was still not back, I began to assume the worst.
When it got to midnight and Paul was still not back, I began to assume the worst. Whoever they appoint will assume responsibility for all financial matters. He assumed power in a bloody coup in 1990. Jim Paton will assume the role of managing director. These relationships assume great importance in times of crisis. The problem is beginning to assume massive proportions. formal (=start to be in charge of a group of people)· He assumed command of all the troops in the Washington area.
(=give yourself a new identity)· She assumed a false identity and went to live in South America.
(=become important)· The town assumed importance once it was connected to the rail system.
(=take the responsibility for something, which you did not have before)· You would then assume the tax liability for the account.
· It would be a mistake to assume that all snakes are dangerous.
It would be naive to think that this could solve all the area’s problems straight away. formal (=move your body into a particular position)· The patient should adopt this position for five minutes every half hour.
formal (=take power)· He assumed power after the assassination of the former president.
formal (=become or seem very great)· Unless you deal with it quickly, the damage may assume serious proportions.
I think it’s safe to say that the future is looking pretty good. formal (=take on significance)· As links with Europe continue to grow, language learning assumes even greater significance.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· I have always assumed that Brightside had it right and Dagenham was merely contributing a series of Gouldisms to the discussion.· She has always assumed her regular place on the couch, the special place where the starters sit.· She had always assumed that something would happen, sometime, to sweep away her marital comfort.· I had always assumed teachers' salaries were generous, but Kierra corrects my impression.· We have always assumed that animal protein was the necessary kind for human health.· I had always assumed that this sort of civilized dismay at barbarism was the monopoly of our cause.
· In a commercial or industrial setting it is often assumed that organisations try to maximise profits as their main goal.· But the fact is that the way we live our lives often assumes a belief about them, one way or another.· The proper field of women psychologists is often assumed to be far from the heights of psychological theory.· We often assume that those above us know much more than they do.· The purer forms of objectivity do not always aid an investigation to the degree that is often assumed.· The grant of a patent can too often assume a talismanic significance for those closely involved in its conception and development.· Lauer often assumes hosting duties when Gumbel is on vacation.
NOUN· Oliver assumed an expression of extreme penitence.· When they gave political responses, we may assume that the expression of political pride was spontaneous.· He assumed a pained expression and averted his eyes.· I assumed my best dumb-brunette expression when handing this on to Humber.
· These are taken-for-granted groupings which assume some form of unity within each category without ever clearly identifying the source of this unity.· The gaunt faces beneath closely cropped heads and the young faces on emaciated bodies had began to assume form and substance.· This was followed by intervention, by an ... intensification of the class struggle, which assumed the form of civil war.· Her devotees could assume the form of horses and were also accused of riding men to death on their beds.· But they can not assume their final adult form and breed unless they reach land.· He would assume a new form and step into the ways of fatherhood.· At this stage the cells had already assumed an epithelial form, but were not yet expressing the two marker proteins.· Afterward, they assumed cockroach form and pestered the poor fellow throughout his lonely meal!
· In the one-day game, the priority is to save every run, and it is the outfielder who assumes hey importance.· It meant that at the moment of its founding, Atchison assumed importance as the eastern terminus of the overland stagecoach lines.· If the farm has hill-grazing rights, these may assume an overriding importance in relation to other factors.· So it must be assumed that the importance of marginal increments of all production is low and declining.· Privately financed and provided group medical plans are assuming greater importance.· This theological argument for differentiation was to assume the greatest importance in spreading the Copernican theory.· In future economic efficiency was likely to assume as much importance as the technical side.· Financial management is now assuming greater importance.
· The problem with all these calculations is they assume a homogenous chemical mantle.· What would happen if this man were to assume the mantle of the most powerful person on earth?· The rocks began to assume a mantle of translucent ice that dripped in grey icicles from overhangs.· Because of his brother's hanging, he assumed the mantle of laibon.· Chatri Sophonpanich, the second son, has now assumed his father's mantle.· Joey held second spot for two laps before Robert assumed the mantle.
· The legal model assumes that the board of directors manages the ordinary business of the company.· Such a model assumes that: 1.· Women of colour who face racist practices can not be simply incorporated into models which assume white women as the norm.· In his original model McKenzie assumed, for ease of calculation, that the lithosphere is stretched instantaneously.· On their upper-range models at least, Mazda assume that you'd like those things.· Decision-process models also assume that consumer learning and experience will build up and affect future purchase situations.
· It is lavishly illustrated and presented and has assumed a pre-eminent position in its field.· She watched him assume the awkward position.· In this passage, Berger has simply assumed that the platonist position has prevailed.· The five-year MEng honours degree course is for particularly able students who expect to assume responsible positions in industry immediately after graduation.· This seemed very Californian; assuming the Peace Position with my llama grazing by my side.· We leave our classrooms, assemble in hallways, assume the proper position.
· If they fail will they assume responsibility for the failure or blame some one else?· And so we must assume responsibility, even for these.· As head of CI5, Cowley had assumed the responsibility for the protection of the Colonel, a guest in the country.· As a principal, he assumes responsibility for the performance of the entire transportation contract.· The state is just assuming responsibility for building and repairing schools, which carries a billion-plus price tag.· This remains the situation that social service departments will inherit in April 1993, when social services assume responsibility for private care.
· Furthermore, the Conservative Party was, it argued, the only party fit to assume this role.· Concern continues about the inability of supervisors to fully assume their roles in making the team system work.· In effect the exporter assumes the role of a buyer and has to market the counter-purchased goods.· He had been to school one day and already he was using phrases and assuming roles that belonged to a different world.· However, in order to do this, it follows that you must be versatile and able to assume many different roles.· Sculley assumed the role of scoutmaster.· For the first time in classical antiquity the nuclear family had assumed a central role in the politics of state.· Dunaway next year will assume the role of movie producer.
VERB· But let us assume that when we question him he proves not to have overlooked such dangers.· And let it be assumed that as an alternative he might choose unchanged productivity which has left everyone employed.· But let us assume that all of them do and hence must be memorized.· Now let us assume that the money supply increases.· For this section let us assume S-D-S preferences so that all households have the same tastes.
· It would seem reasonable to assume that measures aimed at treating calculi in these patients may reduce the frequency of infection.· It seems reasonable to assume that he used his science to determine the probable course of the history of the immediate future.· It seems fair to assume that she will attract the attention of a goodly number of our countrymen.· But they also say the United States seems to assume that it should not have to compete for the key posts.· This seemed very Californian; assuming the Peace Position with my llama grazing by my side.· McLanahan and Sandefur seem to assume, also, that only fathers can perform certain functions within the family.· It seems reasonable to assume Fedorov will collect it, despite the danger.· Ahmed seems to assume that this larger number has arisen by duplication from the n 1 -1 8 complex.
· But both sides tend to assume that men keep things this way because they benefit so much.· We tend to assume that everybody has a car these days and will be affected by these increases.· Davis and Moore have tended to assume that the most highly rewarded positions are indeed the most important.· Yet we tend to assume it is equal in all people.· Textbooks and newspaper articles tend to assume that there are no changes in legislation or personal circumstances in order to illustrate a principle.· They also tend to assume, conveniently, that those who will be affected by the change, have the same information.· Conventional economic and accounting theory tends to assume that the process involved is highly rational and orderly.· Inevitably this affects their attitude to these people so that they tend to assume that all their visits are time-wasting.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► always assuming/supposing (that) something
- As a principal, he assumes responsibility for the performance of the entire transportation contract.
- But you know already that I am not the sort to assume responsibility for my inconsistencies.
- Given a chance to assume responsibility, many do.
- In 1991 it assumed responsibility for its own catering, with total revenue increasing by 60 percent partly as a result.
- It was still unclear last night, however, which party would assume control of the House.
- Then on 13 January 1972 the army dismissed Busia; a group of officers led by Colonel Acheampong assumed control.
- Virgin Trains says it would be prepared to assume responsibility for the state of the track over which its trains run.
- Zajedno leaders say they will assume control of Nis city hall next Monday.
- No wonder the technique assumed an air of planet-wide importance.
- Oliver assumed an expression of extreme penitence.
- The only thing she could do was to assume an air of indifference.
- Against all expectations, it has not taken on the mantle of best pupil in the euro class.
- As for an Iguana Air, I can only assume it's a tropical airline.
- Now if I can only think of their name.
WORD FAMILYnounassumptionverbassume
1to think that something is true, although you do not have definite proof SYN presumeassume (that) I didn’t see your car, so I assumed you’d gone out.it seems/is reasonable to assume (that) It seems reasonable to assume that the book was written around 70 AD.somebody can safely assume that (=it is almost certain) I think we can safely assume that interest rates will go up again soon.let us/let’s assume (that) (=used when thinking about a possible event or situation and its possible results) Let us assume for a moment that we could indeed fire her. Should we?somebody/something is assumed to be (doing) something The rest of the system is assumed to be functioning well.assume the worst (=think that the worst possible thing has happened) When it got to midnight and Paul was still not back, I began to assume the worst.GRAMMARIn more formal English, you say it is assumed that something is true: · It is assumed that the person is innocent.2 assume control/responsibility etc formal to start to have control, responsibility etc or to start in a particular position or job: Whoever they appoint will assume responsibility for all financial matters. He assumed power in a bloody coup in 1990. Jim Paton will assume the role of managing director.3assume a manner/air/expression etc formal to behave in a way that does not show how you really feel, especially in order to seem more confident, happy etc than you are SYN put on: Andy assumed an air of indifference whenever her name was mentioned.4to start to have a particular quality or appearance SYN take on: These relationships assume great importance in times of crisis. The problem is beginning to assume massive proportions.5to be based on the idea that something else is correct SYN presupposeassume (that) The theory assumes that both labour and capital are mobile. Coen’s economic forecast assumes a 3.5% growth rate. → assuming