What does "presuppose" mean?

To assume some truth without proof, usually for the purpose of reaching a conclusion based on that truth.

What is a synonym for "presuppose"?

Common synonyms include: affect, allegorize, allude to, assume, be afraid, be predisposed.

Pronounced //ˌpɹiːsəˈpəʊz//.

//ˌpɹiːsəˈpəʊz// verb

verb ·Uncommon ·College level

Verb

1
To assume some truth without proof, usually for the purpose of reaching a conclusion based on that truth.
""Nay," replied her companion, "what have I done for you to presuppose such a want of gallantry, as to imagine that I would attempt to guess a lady's secret before she thought proper to communicate it?""
2
require as a necessary antecedent or precondition wordnet
3
take for granted or as a given; suppose beforehand wordnet

"We must presuppose that the wage paid is economically just."

From Middle French presupposer, from Latin praesuppōnō.

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.