assume

B1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /əˈsjuːm/ See IPA manual

Freq #2022

Meanings

1

verb
To believe that something is true without having proof.

I assumed you were coming, so I saved you a seat.
2

verb
To take on a job, role, or responsibility.

She will assume the role of director next month.
3

verb
To take on a particular appearance, form, or quality.

The story slowly assumed a darker tone.
4

verb
To pretend to have a feeling or quality.

He assumed an air of indifference, though he was furious inside.
5

verb
To take control of something, often by force or without permission.

The general assumed control of the government.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to believe that something... presume suppose

2 verb · to take on a job, role, or... adopttake ontake over

3 verb · to take on a particular... take

4 verb · to pretend to have a... sham

5 verb · to take control of... seize take over usurp

Word family

Forms assumedassumesassumingunassumed

Derived forms assumablecoassumemisassumepreassumereassume

Related forms assumingassumption assumptive

Appears in

Proverbs (2)

See all

Simplified etymology

Assume entered English in the late Middle English period from Latin assumere, formed from ad, “towards,” and sumere, “take” or “take up.”

Etymology

From Latin assūmō (“accept, take”), from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + sūmō (“take up, assume”).

*h₁em- Proto-Indo-European assūmō Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# assume

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /əˈsjuːm/
**Frequency rank:** 2022

## Meanings
1. To believe that something is true without having proof.
2. To take on a job, role, or responsibility.
3. To take on a particular appearance, form, or quality.
4. To pretend to have a feeling or quality.
5. To take control of something, often by force or without permission.

## Examples
- I assumed you were coming, so I saved you a seat.
- She will assume the role of director next month.
- The story slowly assumed a darker tone.
- He assumed an air of indifference, though he was furious inside.
- The general assumed control of the government.

## Derived Forms
- assumable
- coassume
- misassume
- preassume
- reassume

## Related Forms
- assuming
- assumption
- assumptive

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₁em-
- Root: assūmō

## Etymology
From Latin assūmō (“accept, take”), from ad- (“to, towards, at”) + sūmō (“take up, assume”).

## AI Etymology
Assume is from Latin assūmō (“accept, take”), from ad- (“to, towards, at”) plus sūmō (“take up, assume”). The historical chain also includes Proto-Indo-European *h₁em-. The formation is semantically transparent: the parts remain visible, while the compound or affix fixes the grammatical role and narrows the modern meaning. In use as a verb, assume denotes to believe that something is true without having proof, to take on a job, role, or responsibility, and to take on a particular appearance, form, or quality. The same word family continues in derived forms such as assumable, coassume, misassume, and preassume and related entries such as assuming, assumption, and assumptive.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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