assuming 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of assumingnext
as in wary

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assuming

2 of 2

verb

present participle of assume
1
as in accepting
to take to or upon oneself we promised to assume responsibility for any damage to the flower beds caused by the volleyball game in the backyard

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2
as in saying
to take as true or as a fact without actual proof everyone assumed, wrongly, that someone else was bringing dessert

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3
as in guessing
to form an opinion from little or no evidence as I just assumed it was too late to go out, I didn't think to ask

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4
as in pretending
to present a false appearance of she assumed an air of nonchalance even though she was wildly ecstatic she was going on the date

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5
as in employing
to provide with a paying job assumed as partner by the prestigious law firm

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of assuming
Verb
Thinking that writing code was the only bottleneck for deploying new software is like the Titanic seeing the tip of the iceberg and assuming there was nothing underneath it. — Brian Jenney, IEEE Spectrum, 23 Oct. 2026 Catoir warns against assuming that digital natives will naturally be equipped to work with AI. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026 Nevertheless, some come away from the experience assuming the worst — that the anecdotal issues are proof of a partisan election-rigging scheme. — Ali Swenson, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Guichot confirmed the group’s 2026 targets, assuming no further significant deterioration in trading conditions in France in the coming weeks, following a weekend of protests and political unrest. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026 Oyster farming is another possibility, assuming the tribe doesn’t encounter more legal resistance from the state, says Gumbs. — Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026 The Daily Mail reports some major catfighting went on backstage, with many participants green with envy assuming that momager Kris Jenner clinched the deal. — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026 The price of gas and energy prices and cost of living — everyone is assuming that’s the issue that’s going to drive this election. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026 However, other analysts have expressed concerns about assuming that take-or-pay legal structures are iron-clad and about equating backlogs with revenue. — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for assuming
  1. wary
  2. accepting
  3. saying
  4. guessing
  5. pretending
  6. employing
  7. critical
  8. shouldering
Adjective
  • Haugen is wary of entering a 10- to 15-year lock up at high interest rates.
    — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The president lost in court, but Democrats are still wary of mail-in voting as the midterm election approaches.
    — Laura Meckler, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of wary
Verb
  • There are fewer excuses for accepting compromises than there used to be.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2026
  • An Eagle man charged with animal cruelty in the shooting deaths of two caged cats was ordered to serve a total of 14 days in jail after accepting a plea deal in August, according to court records.
    — Harllie Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of accepting
Verb
  • The league also issued a statement saying that officials had been in contact with Eagles medical personnel and the Cleveland Clinic in London throughout Hurts’ treatment.
    — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Otherwise, Paoli noted few parameters for a Vega commission, saying that each budget is tailor-made to its recipient.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of saying
Verb
  • Sorry to say it, but right now, guessing is what many are doing.
    — Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
  • LaBranche has become a master of sleight of hand and confusing defenses as the Warriors utilize a ton of misdirection and a plethora of running backs to keep the opposition guessing about who is getting the ball.
    — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of guessing
Verb
  • Smart did not enter pleas to charges of being armed, or pretending to be armed, in a way that may cause fear and with making an unlawful threat.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Lee uses this to his advantage, pretending to be a pidgin-speaking Chinese immigrant to protect himself from white people’s suspicion and mistrust.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of pretending
Verb
  • These are basically less privileged neighborhoods where the government is meant to show a greater focus on education by employing more teachers and so on.
    — Elektra Kotsoni, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Ukraine has gotten very good at drone warfare, employing these little robots both in offensive and defensive capacities.
    — Mike Wall, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of employing
Adjective
  • This is becoming increasingly critical as water scarcity puts growing pressure on communities and infrastructure, including in traditionally water-secure regions.
    — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The company says the system is critical to successful missile operations during flight.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of critical
Verb
  • As case counts surged in the initial months of the outbreak, population and demographic data revealed who was shouldering the greatest burdens.
    — Julie Morita, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
  • But with Miami-Dade shouldering most of the long-term costs, Levine Cava’s support is a vital piece of the political puzzle Brightline and its allies are trying to assemble to make the project a reality.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of shouldering

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Cite this Entry

“Assuming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/assuming. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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