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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 »

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