Meaning of assume in English

1. Pronunciation

   /əˈsum/

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1. Verb

   assume

   Etymology

   late Middle English: from Latin assumere, from ad-‘towards’ + sumere‘take’

   Definitions

   1. take to be the case or to be true

   Examples

   • « accept without verification or proof »
   • « I assume his train was late »
2. 2. take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities

   Examples

   • « When will the new President assume office? »
3. 3. take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect

   Examples

   • « 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 »
4. 4. take on as one's own the expenses or debts of another person

   Examples

   • « I'll accept the charges »
   • « She agreed to bear the responsibility »
5. 5. occupy or take on

   Examples

   • « 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 »
6. 6. seize and take control without authority and possibly with force

   Examples

   • « take as one's right or possession »
   • « 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 »
7. 7. make a pretence of

   Examples

   • « She assumed indifference, even though she was seething with anger »
   • « he feigned sleep »
8. 8. Christianity, obsolete

   Examples

   • « take up someone's soul into heaven »
   • « This is the day when May was assumed into heaven »
9. 9. put clothing on one's body

   Examples

   • « 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 »