v. 1
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.
v. 2
To take on a position, duty or form.
Mr. Jones will assume the position of a lifeguard until a proper replacement is found.
v. 3
To adopt a feigned quality or manner; to claim without right; to arrogate.
He assumed an air of indifference.
v. 4
To receive, adopt (a person).

Related words

Word family: assuming assumption assumptive

Forms

Past participle: assumed
e.g. assumed → supposed, presumed, pre-supposed, guessed…

Choose the right word

Assume, Take or Accept?

The distinctive idea of assume is to take by one's own independent volition, whether well or ill, rightfully or wrongfully. One may accept an obligation or assume an authority that properly belongs to him, or he may assume an obligation or indebtedness that could not be required of him.

J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)

Example sentences

suppose I suppose we're a little too indulgent to the dog.
presume Don't presume to tell me how to raise my children!
collect How long did it take you to collect so many coins?
pretend I hate it when you pretend like you don't know me.

Popularity over time

Word	1850 → 2019	Trend
assume		steady
suppose		rising
presume		steady
collect		steady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

3 letters: say¹
4 letters: take¹, wear¹, bear¹, sham¹
5 letters: guess¹, adopt², seize¹, imply², posit², usurp², feign¹
6 letters: accept², strike¹, affect², occupy³, absorb²
7 letters: imagine³, suppose², collect², pretend², acquire³, presume², surmise²
8 letters: shoulder², simulate³, arrogate³
9 letters: undertake³, postulate³
10 letters: understand³
11 letters: appropriate⁴, counterfeit³, hypothesize⁴, hypothesise, hypothetise

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (adopt² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français: assumer
Italiano: assumere
Español: asumir
Català: assumir