🇺🇸
/əˈsuːmz/
🇺🇸
/əˈsuːmz/
🇬🇧
/əˈsuːmz/
🇬🇧
/əˈsuːmz/
Past Tense
assumed
Past Participle
assumed
Gerund
assuming
3rd Person
assumes
Assumes is the third-person singular present tense of 'assume', meaning that someone (he, she, or it) takes something for granted, accepts it as true without proof, or takes on a role, duty, or appearance. For example, when a manager 'assumes leadership', they step into charge — and when scientists 'assume constant temperature', they treat it as a given in their calculations.
She assumes her friend will arrive on time, so she doesn’t call to check.
The model assumes perfect market conditions, which rarely exist in reality.
He assumes a calm expression even when he’s nervous.
This theory assumes that all participants act rationally.
The software assumes the user has administrator privileges.
sum
Comes from the Latin verb 'sumere' (past participle 'sumptus'), meaning 'to take' or 'to take up'. The root 'sum-' conveys the core idea of taking, receiving, adopting, or undertaking. Examples include assume, consume, resume, presume, subsume, and sumptuous.
ad
Comes from the Latin prefix 'ad-', meaning 'to' or 'toward'. In 'assume', it combines with 'sumere' to form 'adsumere' → 'to take to oneself', evolving into 'to take on, adopt, or accept as true'. Other examples include admit, advance, attract, and adhere.