assume

Accept without proof

When you assume that something is true or that something is the case, you take it to be that way without having proof: Students in the course are assumed to have good mathematical knowledge and programming experience. It’s reasonable to assume that the package was delivered yesterday.

If you assume a responsibility, role, or position, you take it on yourself: She won’t assume responsibility of the department till next month. The government has decided to assume control of all the ports.

suppose

hypothesize

Propose a tentative explanation

speculateGuess based on incomplete evidence
theorizeForm explanatory suppositions
inferDerive by reasoning

imagine · guess · surmise · deduce · reckon · gather · expect · anticipate · figure · suspect

belief

premise

Foundation for logical argument

suppositionBelief without proof
presuppositionImplicit prior assumption
conjectureGuess from limited facts

expectation · preconception · hypothesis · given · postulate · axiom · inference · conclusion · leap · predicate

pretend

feign

Pretend to have

fakeNot the real thing
affectProduce change upon
simulateImitate through modeling

put on · sham · dissemble · masquerade · counterfeit · bluff · pose · act · imitate · posture

risk

liability

Legal or financial obligation

exposureState of being unprotected
hazardSource of potential harm
debtMoney owed another

mortgage · cost · burden · obligation · underwriting · default · guarantee · indemnity · collateral · stake

undertake

responsibility

State of being answerable

rolePosition or part
dutyRequired moral task
obligationRequired task or commitment

position · task · burden · charge · mantle · office · command · control · leadership · authority

adopt

identity

Who someone is

personaAssumed public identity
nameIdentifying word for someone
aliasAdopted false name

character · guise · form · appearance · attitude · demeanor · manner · air · expression · tone

Categories

mental verbsthink, believe, know, imagine, remember
pretendingpretend, pretending, fake, feign, make-believe
responsibility verbsmanage, handle, oversee, supervise, lead
take onhire, employ, recruit, accept, adopt
directivesdefine, include, else, if, error
misunderstandingmisunderstand, misinterpret, miscommunication, misconception, misconstrue

Opposites

belief without proof

assumedoubt

Lack of firm belief

question · know · disbelieve · challenge · mistrust

taking on responsibility/role

Formally renounce authority

relinquish · renounce · resign · surrender · abandon

adopting appearance/manner

assumedrop

Fall or release

shed · abandon · discard · reveal · unmask

Phrases

I assumePhrase preceding unverified belief
assuming thatTreating as true for argument
assumed nameAdopted false identity
assume controlBegin governing or directing
false assumptionIncorrect foundational belief
assumed identityFabricated personal guise

Family

assumed, assumption, assuming, unassuming, assumes, assumptive, assumers, assumable, assumer

Familiarity: Top 2,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G