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Meaning of assume in English
Pronunciation
/əˈsum/
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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.
take on titles, offices, duties, responsibilities
Examples
« When will the new President assume office? »
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.
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.
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.
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.
make a pretence of
Examples
« She assumed indifference, even though she was seething with anger »
« he feigned sleep »
8.
Christianity, obsolete
Examples
« take up someone's soul into heaven »
« This is the day when May was assumed into heaven »
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 »