[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/presuppose/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [P](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/p/) / presuppose

# presuppose

verb (presuppose, presupposes, presupposed, presupposing) — formal

«presuppose» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. (formal) To take something for granted as true before you start: «The plan presupposes that everyone will help.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/presuppose/#m1)
2. (formal) To need something to be true or to exist first: «Reading presupposes knowing the letters.» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/presuppose/#m2)

### In the lessons

In maths and logic it points to the hidden starting idea of a question or argument. In reasoning and olympiad puzzles it helps you spot a trick question: «When did you stop cheating?» presupposes that you cheated. Phrases: «presuppose that», «presupposes knowledge of».

### Examples

- The question «Who broke the vase?» presupposes that somebody broke it. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/presuppose/#x1)
- Long division presupposes that you know your times tables. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/presuppose/#x2)
- His plan presupposes that the bus will be on time. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/presuppose/#x3)
- The story presupposes that dragons can talk. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/presuppose/#x4)
- Good teamwork presupposes trust. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/presuppose/#x5)
- Don't presuppose the answer before you check the facts. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/presuppose/#x6)

### Note

Formal. Noun: presupposition. In logic, a loaded question presupposes something that may be false; you can answer by questioning the presupposition. Similar to «assume», but «presuppose» is about what must already be true for something else to make sense.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «presuppose» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/presuppose/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«presuppose» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/presuppose.html) on Mova free.