Library / English Dictionary

PRESUPPOSE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Require as a necessary antecedent or precondition

Example:

This step presupposes two prior ones

Synonyms:

presuppose; suppose

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "presuppose" is one way to...):

imply (suggest as a logically necessary consequence; in logic)

Domain category:

logic (the branch of philosophy that analyzes inference)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Take for granted or as a given; suppose beforehand

Example:

I presuppose that you have done your work

Synonyms:

presuppose; suppose

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "presuppose" is one way to...):

assume; presume; take for granted (take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "presuppose"):

posit; postulate (take as a given; assume as a postulate or axiom)

premise; premiss (take something as preexisting and given)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s that CLAUSE

Derivation:

presupposition (the act of presupposing; a supposition made prior to having knowledge (as for the purpose of argument))

Credits