suppose

From Middle English supposen, borrowed from Old French supposer, equivalent to prefix sub- (“under”) + poser (“to place”); corresponding in meaning to Latin supponere (“to put under, to substitute, falsify, counterfeit”), suppositum. See pose.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /səˈpəʊz/, [səˈpʰəʊz]
• (US) IPA^(key): /səˈpoʊz/, [səˈpʰoʊz]

• Audio (US)

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• (syncope, contraction)
  • (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈspəʊz/, [ˈspəʊz]
  • (US) IPA^(key): /ˈspoʊz/, [ˈspoʊz]
• Rhymes: -əʊz

suppose (third-person singular simple present supposes, present participle supposing, simple past and past participle supposed)

1. (transitive) To take for granted; to conclude, with less than absolute supporting data; to believe.

   Suppose that A implies B and B implies C. Then A implies C.

   • 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 15, in The China Governess‎:

     ‘No,’ said Luke, grinning at her. ‘You're not dull enough! […] What about the kid's clothes? I don't suppose they were anything to write home about, but didn't you keep anything? A bootee or a bit of embroidery or anything at all?’

2. (transitive) To theorize or hypothesize.

   I suppose we all agree that this is the best solution.

   • 1913, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 5, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:

     Of all the queer collections of humans outside of a crazy asylum, it seemed to me this sanitarium was the cup winner. […] When you're well enough off so's you don't have to fret about anything but your heft or your diseases you begin to get queer, I suppose.

   • 2013 September 6, David Cox, “Celebrity rules even Hawking's universe”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 13, page 30:

     Just what is supposed to be wrong with the pursuit of fame is not always made clear. Plato disapproved of competition for praise on the grounds that it would tempt the great to bend to the will of the crowd. It is hard to argue with that, and social degradation remains a fear.

3. (transitive) To imagine; to believe; to receive as true.
   • William Shakespeare (c.1564–1616)

     How easy is a bush supposed a bear!

   • Bible, 2 Samuel xiii. 32

     Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men, the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead.

   • 1915, G[eorge] A. Birmingham [pseudonym; James Owen Hannay], chapter I, in Gossamer, New York, N.Y.: George H. Doran Company, OCLC 5661828:

     As a political system democracy seems to me extraordinarily foolish, […]. My servant is, so far as I am concerned, welcome to as many votes as he can get. […] I do not suppose that it matters much in reality whether laws are made by dukes or cornerboys, but I like, as far as possible, to associate with gentlemen in private life.

4. (transitive) To require to exist or to be true; to imply by the laws of thought or of nature.

   Purpose supposes foresight.

   • 1752, Charlotte Lennox, The Female Quixote

     One falsehood always supposes another, and renders all you can say suspected.

5. (transitive) To put by fraud in the place of another.

• assume (1,2)
• See also Thesaurus:suppose

• supposable
• supposed to (idiom)
• supposedly

suppose

1. first-person singular present indicative of supposer
2. third-person singular present indicative of supposer
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of supposer
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of supposer
5. second-person singular imperative of supposer

suppose

1. third-person singular past historic of supporre