as‧sump‧tion S2 W2 AC / əsʌmpʃ ə n / 名词

1 [可数名词] something that you think is true although you have no definite proof → assume

assumption that

A lot of people make the assumption that poverty only exists in the Third World.

My calculations were based on the assumption that house prices would remain steady.

assumption about

People make a lot of assumptions about me.

2 [不可数名词] formal when someone starts to have control or power

assumption of

the assumption of responsibility

COLLOCATIONS

动词

make an assumption You’re making a lot of assumptions for which you have no proof.

be based on/rest on an assumption Our plans were based on the assumption that everyone would be willing to help.

work on an assumption (= act according to something that may not be true ) The police seemed to be working on the assumption that he was guilty.

形容词

a reasonable/valid assumption This seemed like a reasonable assumption.

a common/general/widespread assumption There’s a common assumption that science is more difficult than other subjects.

a basic/fundamental/underlying assumption There is a basic assumption in international law that a state will protect its citizens.

a correct assumption Many people acted on the correct assumption that interest rates would rise.

a wrong/false/mistaken assumption Both theories are based on a single wrong assumption.

an underlying assumption (= a belief that is used as the basis for an idea, but which may not be correct ) There seems to be an underlying assumption in what he says that women are weaker than men.

a tacit/unspoken assumption (= one that no one says aloud ) There seemed to be a tacit assumption that they would get married.

a questionable assumption (= one that is likely to be wrong ) That assumption was obviously highly questionable.