Betekenis van assume In het Nederlands

• 0 to accept something to be true without question or proof:

  • [ + (that) ] I assumed (that) you knew each other because you went to the same school.

  • Let's assume (that) they're coming and make plans on that basis.

  • [ + to infinitive ] We can't assume the suspects to be guilty simply because they've decided to remain silent.

  • We mustn't assume the suspects' guilt.

• 1 to pretend to have a different name or be someone you are not, or to express a feeling falsely:

  • Moving to a different town, he assumed a false name.

  • During the investigation, two detectives assumed the identities of antiques dealers.

  • He assumed a look of indifference but I knew how he felt.

• 2 to take or begin to have responsibility or control, sometimes without the right to do so, or to begin to have a characteristic:

  • The new president assumes office at midnight tonight.

  • The terrorists assumed control of the plane and forced it to land in the desert.

  • The issue has assumed considerable political proportions (= has become a big political problem).

• 3 to accept something as true without question or proof:

  • [ + (that) clause ] We can’t assume (that) he’s innocent simply because he says he is.

  • [ + (that) clause ] I assumed (that) nobody was home because the car wasn’t in the driveway.

• 4 to pretend to be someone you are not, or to express a feeling falsely:

  • During the investigation, two detectives assumed the identities of antique dealers.

  • Jim assumed a look of indifference.

• 5 to take control or claim authority, sometimes without the right to do so:

  • The new president assumes office in January.

• 6 to begin to take control of something:

  • assume control/office/a role Europe has assumed a leadership role in the prevention of future global crises.

  • assume responsibility for sth The FSA said mortgages would not be affected when it assumed responsibility for the regulation of mortgage sales.

  • assume a debt/mortgage/risk In addition to paying $3 billion in cash, the newspaper group will assume $600 million of the company’s debt.

• 7 to accept that something is true without being sure about it:

  • We are assuming a 6% growth in sales.

  • assume that We can safely assume that we are ahead of the competition with this product.

  • Assuming that all goes well, how long is the project expected to take?

• 8 to be based on a particular idea:

  • These figures assume that inflation will rise no higher than 2%.