Meaning & use
assumptions
Last updated
“assumptions” is a form of “assumption”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nouncountable
Things you believe to be true without having proof, especially when they form the basis of a plan or argument.
Grammar: Countable and usually plural in this sense; a single one is an assumption.
Patterns
- make assumptions about someone/something
- be based on assumptions
- question/challenge an assumption
The whole report rests on assumptions that nobody has tested.
Try not to make assumptions about people you have just met.
Her assumptions about the cost turned out to be wrong.
noununcountableformal
The act of taking on a duty, role, or position, or of taking power or control.
Grammar: Uncountable and formal; used in fixed phrases such as the assumption of office.
Patterns
- the assumption of something
- someone's assumption of office
The ceremony marked the assumption of office by the new president.
His assumption of control over the company surprised the staff.
Word forms
| singular | assumption |
|---|
Common combinations
- make an assumption
- Before you make an assumption, check the facts.
- on the assumption that
- We booked the hall on the assumption that fifty people would come.
- a basic assumption
- A basic assumption of the course is that students can already write clearly.
- a wrong assumption
- That was a wrong assumption on my part.
- challenge an assumption
- Good teachers challenge the assumptions their students bring to class.
Synonyms and how they differ
- belief
- A belief can be based on evidence or faith; an assumption is specifically something accepted as true without proof, often so a plan can go ahead.
- supposition
- Very close in meaning, but more formal and less common; it stresses guessing rather than the unexamined basis of an argument.
- premise
- A premise is a stated starting point in logic or an argument; an assumption is often left unstated.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: assumptions or presumption? assumptions or assumption (religion)?
assumptions vs presumption
A presumption is a belief accepted as likely true, often because of how things usually are; an assumption is something you simply take for granted, sometimes carelessly.
assumptions vs assumption (religion)
With a capital A, Assumption refers to a religious feast; in everyday writing the lowercase word has nothing to do with religion.
Practice
The budget was prepared ___ the assumption that sales would rise by ten percent.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'on the assumption that', meaning the plan depends on that belief. 'In' and 'at' do not combine with 'assumption' in this pattern; 'by' would suggest a method, not a basis.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “assumptions”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.