different between suppose vs supposing

English

Etymology

From Middle English supposen, borrowed from Old French supposer, equivalent to prefix sub- (“under”) + poser (“to place”); corresponding in meaning to Latin supponere (“to put under, to substitute, falsify, counterfeit”), suppositum. See pose.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /s??p??z/, [s??p???z]
• (US) IPA^(key): /s??po?z/, [s??p?o?z]

• (syncope, contraction)
  • (UK) IPA^(key): /?sp??z/, [?sp??z]
  • (US) IPA^(key): /?spo?z/, [?spo?z]
• Rhymes: -??z

Verb

suppose (third-person singular simple present supposes, present participle supposing, simple past and past participle supposed)

1. (transitive) To take for granted; to conclude, with less than absolute supporting data; to believe.
2. (transitive) To theorize or hypothesize.
3. (transitive) To imagine; to believe; to receive as true.
   • Let not my lord suppose that they have slain all the young men, the king's sons; for Amnon only is dead.
4. (transitive) To require to exist or to be true; to imply by the laws of thought or of nature.

   Purpose supposes foresight.

   • 1752, Charlotte Lennox, The Female Quixote

     One falsehood always supposes another, and renders all you can say suspected.

5. (transitive) To put by fraud in the place of another.

Synonyms

• assume (1,2)
• See also Thesaurus:suppose

Derived terms

• supposable
• supposed to (idiom)
• supposedly

Descendants

• Chinese Pidgin English: supposey

Translations

French

Verb

suppose

1. first-person singular present indicative of supposer
2. third-person singular present indicative of supposer
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of supposer
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of supposer
5. second-person singular imperative of supposer

Italian

Verb

suppose

1. third-person singular past historic of supporre

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /s??po?z??/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /s??p??z??/
• Rhymes: -??z??
• Hyphenation: sup?pos?ing

Verb

supposing

1. present participle of suppose

Noun

supposing (plural supposings)

1. The act of making a supposition.
   • 1837, The Dublin University Magazine

     She could have joined most comfortably in all their supposings, and suspicions, and doubts, and prognostications, but the honour of the family was too nearly concerned to allow free reins to her tongue.

Conjunction

supposing

1. if hypothetically (optionally followed by that)