suppose

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /səˈpəʊz/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /səˈpoz/

• Audio (US)

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Verb

Plain form suppose

Third-person singular supposes

Past tense supposed

Past participle supposed

Present participle supposing

1. When you suppose something, you guess that it is true.

   What do you suppose that he will do?

   I suppose he'll come back. He always does.

   I know I can't do it, but I suppose it's possible.

   "You've been here about an hour, I suppose." "That's right."

   Do you suppose that was his plan from the beginning?

2. You use I suppose to show that you agree weakly with something.

   "Did she know Paul pretty well?" "I suppose so."

3. You use I don't suppose to ask a question, especially when you think the answer is no.

   I don't suppose you remember me?

4. You use suppose to talk about an imaginary situation.

   Suppose, for example, that there was nothing there. Then what would you do?

Related words

• supposed
• supposedly
• supposing