suppose

verb

sup·​pose sə-ˈpōz 

usually after "I" ˈspōz

supposed; supposing

transitive verb

1

a

: to lay down tentatively as a hypothesis, assumption, or proposal

suppose a fire broke out

suppose you bring the salad

b(1)

: to hold as an opinion : believe

they supposed they were early

(2)

: to think probable or in keeping with the facts

seems reasonable to suppose that he would profit

2

a

: conceive, imagine

b

: to have a suspicion of

3

: presuppose

intransitive verb

: conjecture, opine

Synonyms of suppose

• estimate
• guess
• calculate
• figure
• make
• reckon
• put
• gauge

Examples of suppose in a Sentence

Suppose a fire broke out. How would we escape?

Just suppose for a moment that you agreed with me.

Supposing he refuses to help, what do we do then?

The renovations will cost much more than we originally supposed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Everything’s crystal clear about what we’re supposed to do, what our role is since Day 1. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Craig wasn’t supposed to be an upgrade over Hoover, but his decision-making and athleticism were supposed to help the offense be more efficient. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026

Advertisement This is not supposed to be how compounding pharmacies work, says Shabbir Safdar, executive director of the Partnership for Safe Medicines, a public-health group that aims to protect consumers from counterfeit or unsafe medicines. — Alana Semuels, Time, 7 Oct. 2026

Sometimes things find you that you’re supposed to examine in yourself, confront or spend more time looking at. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French supposer, from Medieval Latin supponere (perfect indicative supposui), from Latin, to put under, substitute, from sub- + ponere to put — more at position

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing suppose

• I don't suppose

Rhymes for suppose

• aloes
• arose
• bestows
• boroughs
• buboes
• cargoes
• cocos
• compos
• compose
• crossbows
• demos
• depose

Kids Definition

suppose

verb

sup·​pose sə-ˈpōz 

supposed; supposing

1

: to take as true or as a fact for the sake of argument

suppose a fire should break out

2

: to hold as an opinion : believe

they supposed they were on the right bus

3

: to come to a conclusion arrived at by guessing

who do you suppose will win