verb (used with object), as·sumed, as·sum·ing.
- to take for granted or without proof: to assume that everyone wants peace.
- to take upon oneself; undertake: to assume an obligation.
- to take over the duties or responsibilities of: to assume the office of treasurer.
- to take on (a particular character, quality, mode of life, etc.); adopt: He assumed the style of an aggressive go-getter.
- to take on; be invested or endowed with: The situation assumed a threatening character.
- to pretend to have or be; feign: to assume a humble manner.
- to appropriate or arrogate; seize; usurp: to assume a right to oneself; to assume control.
- to take upon oneself (the debts or obligations of another).
- Archaic. to take into relation or association; adopt.
verb (used without object), as·sumed, as·sum·ing.
- to take something for granted; presume.
verb (tr)
- (may take a clause as object) to take for granted; accept without proof; supposeto assume that someone is sane
- to take upon oneself; undertake or take on or over (a position, responsibility, etc)to assume office
- to pretend to; feignhe assumed indifference, although the news affected him deeply
- to take or put on; adoptthe problem assumed gigantic proportions
- to appropriate or usurp (power, control, etc); arrogatethe revolutionaries assumed control of the city
- Christianity (of God) to take up (the soul of a believer) into heaven
early 15c., assumpten “to receive up into heaven” (especially of the Virgin Mary), also assumen “to arrogate,” from Latin assumere “to take up, take to oneself,” from ad- “to, up” (see ad-) + sumere “to take,” from sub “under” + emere “to take” (see exempt (adj.)).
Meaning “to suppose, to take for granted as the basis of argument” is first recorded 1590s; that of “to take or put on (an appearance, etc.)” is from c.1600. Related: Assumed; assuming. Early past participle was assumpt. In rhetorical usage, assume expresses what the assumer postulates, often as a confessed hypothesis; presume expresses what the presumer really believes.