Meaning of suppose in English

suppose

verb

/səˈpəʊz/ us

/səˈpoʊz/

suppose verb (THINK LIKELY)

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A2 [ T ]

to think that something is likely to be true:

[ + (that) ] Dan didn't answer his phone, so I suppose (that) he's busy.

He found it a lot more difficult to get a job than he supposed it would be.

[ + (that) ] Do you suppose (that) Gillian will marry him?

It is widely supposed (that) the CEO will be forced to resign.

[ + to infinitive ] We all supposed him to be German, but in fact he was Swiss.

Her new book is supposed to be (= generally people think it is) very good.

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

to believe someone or something

believeCan we believe a word of what this man says?
acceptMost people accept what the newspapers say as being correct.
creditUK It’s hard to credit that she’s 87.
swallowI personally find it hard to swallow the official narrative.
buyWhen it comes to global warming, he doesn't buy it, and is out to discredit the whole theory.

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[ + (that) ]

used to show that you think something is true, although you wish that it were not:

I suppose (that) all the tickets will be sold by now.

[ + (that) ]

used when you are annoyed:

I suppose (that) you're going to be late again.

I suppose (that) you think that's funny. Well, I certainly don't.

used to show unwillingness to agree:

"Can I go out tonight?" "Oh, I suppose so."

[ + (that) ] I don't agree with it, but I suppose (that) it's for the best.

[ + (that) ]

used in making polite requests:

I don't suppose (that) you could lend me £5 till tomorrow?

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Responsibility, I suppose, is what defines adulthood.
I suppose his criticism was fair comment .
I suppose I could get on with the ironing while I'm waiting.
I don't suppose there's any left-over pie going, is there?
I didn't realize that Melanie hadn't been to college - I suppose I just took it for granted.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Guessing, supposing and suspecting

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Talking angrily

Accepting & agreeing reluctantly

Polite expressions

suppose verb (NEED)

[ T ] formal

to expect and need:

Investment of this kind supposes (= would not be possible without) an increase in the company's profits this year.

See also

presuppose

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Being based on or depending on something

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suppose

conjunction

/səˈpəʊz/ us

/səˈpoʊz/

(also supposing)

used at the beginning of a sentence or clause to mean 'what would happen if':

Suppose we miss the train - what will we do then?

We'd love to come and see you on Saturday, supposing (= if) I don't have to work that day.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Linguistics: connecting words which express a condition

Grammar

Supposing

Supposing may be used with a conditional meaning. It can be used in first, second or third conditional sentences. The speaker invites the listener to imagine a situation: …

Suppose, supposing and what if

We use suppose, supposing and what if + present verb form to make suggestions about what might happen: …

Suggestions

We use suppose, supposing and what if + present verb form to make suggestions about what might happen: …

Possibility

When we are less certain, we use suppose, supposing and what if + past form to talk about future possibility: …

(Definition of suppose from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

suppose | American Dictionary

suppose

verb [ I/T ]

/səˈpoʊz/

suppose verb [I/T] (THINK LIKELY)

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to expect or believe:

[ I ] "Will you be going with them?" "Yes, I suppose (so)."

[ + (that) clause ] "You don’t suppose (that) they forgot about meeting us, do you?"

Suppose can also show that you are guessing about something:

[ T ] I suppose it’s about six months since I last had the brakes checked.

suppose

conjunction

/səˈpoʊz/

(also supposing, us/səˈpoʊ·zɪŋ/)

suppose conjunction (WHAT IF)

(used at the beginning of a sentence or clause) what would happen if:

Suppose we miss the train – what would we do then?

Supposing that you had that opportunity, Mrs. Gallagher, what would you say?

(Definition of suppose from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

Examples of suppose

suppose

How do the supposed liminal dimensions of some material elements of the ritual relate to fire as a medium of transition?

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The ui are supposed to capture any country specific time-invariant effects not included in the explanatory variables.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

While labour demand is modelled, labour supply is supposed to follow the demand within the framework of constant nominal wage rates.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

How could the way we see things affect our choices, supposing that it does?

From the Cambridge English Corpus

However, many problems have remained unsolved, and many supposed facts need to be revised in the light of recent research.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Indeed, genetically informed studies, in many cases, have supported these main effects, although their magnitude is sometimes less than previously supposed.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Throughout this work, it is supposed that in the initial state the two surfaces are not in contact.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

In (14) above, overrun the line and run over the line are supposed to be synonymous.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

I state them in terms of the ideal concept of normative economics that welfare economics is supposed to encapsulate.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The simulation of threat recognition is supposed to proceed in the following way.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Speakers are not supposed to omit crucial information.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Essentially the fluid is supposed t o be either in irrotational motion or initially to have a uniform vorticity.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The reversal is supposed to start instantaneously and to run at exactly the same speed as the forward simulation.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The ten-second public announcement was supposed to be reassuring.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The agreement was too indefinite to be enforced - how long was the loan supposed to run?

From the Cambridge English Corpus

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These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

What is the pronunciation of suppose?

What is the pronunciation of supposing?

Translations of suppose

in Chinese (Traditional)

認為可能, 認為可能，料想，猜想, （用於表示與願望相反的估計）猜，推測…

Meaning of suppose in English

suppose verb (THINK LIKELY)

suppose verb (NEED)

Grammar

suppose | American Dictionary

suppose verb [I/T] (THINK LIKELY)

suppose conjunction (WHAT IF)

Examples of suppose

Translations of suppose

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