suppose Hear it!

suppose Definition

sup·pose (sə pōz′)

transitive verb -·posed′, -·pos′·ing

  1. to assume to be true, as for the sake of argument or to illustrate a proof suppose A equals B
  2. to believe, think, guess, etc. I suppose you're right
  3. presuppose (sense )
  4. to consider as a proposed or suggested possibility: used in the imperative suppose they don't come
  5. to expect or obligate: always in the passive you're supposed to telephone

Etymology: ME supposen < MFr supposer, to suppose, imagine, altered (infl. by poser: see pose) < ML supponere, to suppose, assume < L, to put under, substitute < sub-, sub- + ponere: see position

intransitive verb

to make a supposition; conjecture

suppose Related Forms

sup·pos′·able adjective sup·pos′·ably adverb sup·pos′er noun

suppose Synonyms

suppose

v.

conjecture, surmise, deem, think, reckon*; see also assume 1, guess 1.

suppose Usage Examples

Object

  • it's: I suppose itâs one way that they will always remember little old Bedford.
  • superiority: Not when their supposed superiority is thrust so wilfully down throats.
  • i'm: In this Iâm supposed to be sort of arty, and a bit odd.
  • somebody: Suppose that somebody gives you a telephone number, and you want to try and remember it.
  • someone: Sorry I disturbed you slumber - but I supposed someone had to.
  • anyone: We do not suppose anyone will ever be able to persuade Mr Alexander that his understanding of the position is wrong.

Used with why or when

  • that: I suppose that depends on what you received compared to what you bid for!
  • what: I suppose what you're trying to say is, you don't want another Chris Evans on your hands.
  • when: A fair point I suppose when you consider that more people were arrested in Bedford than anywhere else in the country.

Infinitive complement

  • happen: What is supposed to happen is: Phil arrives at airport and meeting grinning idiot Barrister Don Barrister Don bashes Phil on the head.
  • represent: About the attitude of the MP's that are supposed to represent the people of the UK?
  • do: Of course I gave chase, what else was I supposed to do?
  • believe: Oh, and are we supposed to believe this is a documentary?
  • protect: They, above all, are supposed to protect the interests of society by ensuring appropriate and measured responses to their crimes.
  • have: The ape is supposed to have been a pet for the Martyn Family during the fifteen hundreds.

Modifying Another Word

  • commonly: It was also found that the justice offered by the state courts was not as alien or inappropriate as commonly supposed.
  • erroneously: Some authors have erroneously supposed that it was built out of the ruins of Old Penrith, distant five miles northward.
  • generally: General Public Introduction Accidents to the general public caused by building operations happen more frequently than is generally supposed.
  • n't: Whoever she was, she just was n't supposed to be where I was supposed to be right then.
  • somehow: Well, suppose somehow that you could get into that time bubble, that bubble of history, and travel with it.