presuppose

/ˈprisəˌpoʊz/

Other forms: presupposes; presupposed; presupposing

To presuppose is to take something as a given; presupposing is like assuming.

When you suppose something is true, you assume it's true; to presuppose means something similar. The pre — which means "before" — is a reminder that what you're assuming is background or pretext for something else. Asking “Want soup?” presupposes someone is hungry. Asking a woman "When is the baby due?" presupposes that she’s pregnant. Presupposing can be dangerous: if your presuppositions are incorrect, you could jump to the wrong conclusion.

Definitions of presuppose

1. verb

   take for granted or as a given; suppose beforehand
   “I presuppose that you have done your work”

   synonyms: suppose

   types:

   posit, postulate

   take as a given; assume as a postulate or axiom

   premise, premiss

   take something as preexisting and given

   assert, insist

   assert to be true

   type of:

   assume, presume, take for granted

   take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
2. verb

   require as a necessary antecedent or precondition
   “This step presupposes two prior ones”

   synonyms: suppose

   type of:

   imply

   suggest as a logically necessary consequence; in logic