assume

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to take on titles, offices, duties, or responsibilities

   When will the new President assume office?

2. 2
   verb

   to take on a certain form, attribute, or aspect

   The angel assumed the shape of a lion.

3. 3
   verb

   to take to be the case or to be true

   I can only assume what you are saying is true, as I was not there.

4. 4
   verb

   to take up someone's soul into heaven

   This is the day when May was assumed into heaven.

5. 5
   verb

   to make a pretence of

   The athlete assumed indifference, even though they were seething with anger.

6. 6
   verb

   to occupy or take on

   The yogi assumed the lotus position.

7. 7
   verb

   to seize and take control without authority and possibly with force

   I assumed control of the company.

8. 8
   verb

   To authenticate by means of belief; to surmise; to suppose to be true, especially without proof.

   We assume that, as her parents were dentists, she knows quite a bit about dentistry.

Etymology

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