suppose - assume

suppose - assume
◊ 'suppose'
If you suppose that something is the case, you think it is probably the case.

I suppose it was bound to happen.

I suppose he left fairly recently.

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◊ 'assume'
If you assume that something is the case, you are fairly sure that it is the case, and act as if it were the case.

I assumed that he had started working as soon as he left.

When you have a language degree, people assume that you speak the language fluently.

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You do not say that someone supposes or assumes `something to be' the case.
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◊ 'don't suppose'
Instead of saying that you suppose something is not the case, you usually say that you don't suppose that it is the case.

I don't suppose you would be prepared to stay in Edinburgh?

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◊ 'I suppose so'
If someone says that something is the case, or asks you whether something is the case, you can say `I suppose so' as a way of agreeing with them or saying `yes'. When you say `I suppose so', you are indicating that you are uncertain or unenthusiastic about something.

`So it was worth doing?' —-`I suppose so.'

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Note that you do not say `I suppose it'.
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◊ 'I suppose not'
Similarly, you can agree with a negative statement or question by saying `I suppose not'.

`It doesn't often happen.' —-`No, I suppose not.'

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◊ 'suppose' used as a conjunction
You can use suppose as a conjunction when you are considering a possible situation or action and trying to think what effects it would have.

Suppose we don't say a word, and somebody else finds out about it.

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Supposing can be used in a similar way.

Supposing something should go wrong, what would you do then?

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◊ 'be supposed to'
If something is supposed to be done, it should be done because of a rule, instruction, or custom.

You are supposed to report it to the police as soon as possible.

I'm not supposed to talk to you about this.

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If something is supposed to be true, people generally think that it is true.

The hill was supposed to be haunted by a ghost.

She was supposed to be very good as an actress.

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Note that you do not say that something `is suppose to' be done or be true.
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Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • suppose — [sə pōz′] vt. supposed, supposing [ME supposen < MFr supposer, to suppose, imagine, altered (infl. by poser: see POSE1) < ML supponere, to suppose, assume < L, to put under, substitute < sub ,SUB + ponere: see POSITION] 1. to assume… …   English World dictionary

  • assume — as·sume vt as·sumed, as·sum·ing 1: to voluntarily take upon oneself assume a risk 2: to take over (the debts or obligations of another) as one s own assume a mortgage Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster …   Law dictionary

  • Suppose — Sup*pose , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Supposed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Supposing}.] [F. supposer; pref. sub under + poser to place; corresponding in meaning to L. supponere, suppositum, to put under, to substitute, falsify, counterfeit. See {Pose}.] 1. To… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Assume — As*sume , v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Assumed}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Assuming}.] [L. assumere; ad + sumere to take; sub + emere to take, buy: cf. F. assumer. See {Redeem}.] 1. To take to or upon one s self; to take formally and demonstratively; sometimes,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • suppose — [v1] assume, guess accept, admit, brainstorm, calculate, conjecture, cook up*, dare say*, deem, divine, dream, estimate, expect, figure, go out on a limb*, grant, guesstimate*, hazard a guess*, hypothesize, imagine, infer, judge, opine, posit,… …   New thesaurus

  • assume — assume, presume 1. Both words can mean ‘suppose’ and are often interchangeable in this meaning. Fowler (1926) maintained that there is a stronger element of postulation or hypothesis in assume and of a belief held on the basis of external… …   Modern English usage

  • assume — [ə so͞om′, əsyo͞om′] vt. assumed, assuming [ME assumen < L assumere, to take up, claim < ad , to + sumere, to take: see CONSUME] 1. to take on or put on (the appearance, form, role, etc. of) 2. to seize; usurp [to assume control] 3. to take …   English World dictionary

  • assume — [v1] believe, take for granted accept, ascertain, be afraid, be inclined to think, conclude, conjecture, consider, count upon, deduce, deem, divine, estimate, expect, fall for, fancy, find, gather, get the idea*, guess, have a hunch*, have… …   New thesaurus

  • suppose — early 14c., to assume as the basis of argument, from O.Fr. supposer to assume, probably a replacement of *suppondre (influenced by O.Fr. poser put, place ), from L. supponere put or place under, from sub under + ponere put, place (see POSITION… …   Etymology dictionary

  • suppose — ► VERB 1) think or assume that something is true or probable, but without proof. 2) (of a theory or argument) assume or require that something is the case as a precondition. 3) (be supposed to do) be required or expected to do. ORIGIN Latin… …   English terms dictionary

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