presupposes

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "presupposes" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an assumption or understanding that is used as the basis for further reasoning or discussion. For example, "This investigation presupposes that the evidence is reliable."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This argument presupposes that "traditions" are worth preserving.

The Guardian - Books

That structure presupposes the foreign intelligence nature of listening activities.

The Guardian - Tech

"Evolution of nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation because evolution presupposes the creation of beings which evolve".

The Guardian

Yet here they are demanding intervention a policy which presupposes that governments (a) know what the exchange rate should be, and (b) can get their way by signalling that knowledge to the markets.If intervention to correct currency misalignments is feasible, then the case for exchange-rate targets is stronger.

The Economist

That "presupposes self-discipline", but "whims and fancies rule the industry".Dev Anand, a former matinée idol who is now one of India's best-loved film-makers, confirms this view with his description of his fund-raising strategies: "I'm not a waster; I don't overshoot.

The Economist

The article presupposes that collusive agreements between firms are invariably anti-competitive and should only be tolerated if there is strong evidence that efficiency gains are being shared at least equally with consumers.Read the whole article to learn why the three airlines have some tricky days ahead.

The Economist

That is because, as you can see, the ratio is close to one of its 20th century peaks in the mid-1960s, which preceded the long bear market of the 1970s.The ratio presupposes that profits revert to some sort of a mean, at least as a proportion of GDP.

The Economist

The deal on offer presupposes that Iran will negotiate in good faith.

The Economist

SO BRITAIN, following in the wake of France, has today recognised the grandly named National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces as the "sole legitimate representative" of the Syrian people (note the word "sole", which rather presupposes that this coalition, hastily formed a few days ago in Qatar, will indeed remain united).

The Economist

This idea strikes me as more than a little dotty.As Jason Brennan, a philosopher at Georgetown, puts it, "this presupposes that if you hire someone for, say, 40 hours a week, you owe him enough money for him to lead a decent life".

The Economist

Democracy presupposes equality before the law, due process and political pluralism.The Democracy index is based on the view that measures of democracy that reflect the state of political freedoms and civil liberties are not thick enough.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for this term in academic papers or analytical essays to sound more precise than using the generic assumes

Common error

Do not use "presupposes" when the relationship is one of consequence rather than prerequisite. If one thing leads to another, use "implies" or "entails". Use "presupposes" only for what must come first.

Linguistic Context

The word "presupposes" functions as a transitive verb in the third person singular. It is used to indicate a relationship of logical necessity or prior assumption. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable, appearing frequently as a way to link a concept to its foundational requirements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Social Media

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "presupposes" is an essential tool for analytical writing. It identifies the logical foundation upon which a statement or system rests. As demonstrated by the extensive examples in Ludwig, it is most at home in academic and scientific contexts, particularly when discussing complex theories in philosophy or economics. While it is synonymous with "assumes", its specific focus on prerequisites makes it uniquely valuable for rigorous intellectual discourse. When using it, ensure that you are pointing toward a necessary prior condition rather than a subsequent result.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

assumes

is a more common and slightly less formal synonym for general use

is predicated on

uses a passive construction to highlight the foundational premise

rests on

provides a more visual or physical metaphor for logical support

requires

focuses on the practical or functional necessity of a condition

necessitates

emphasizes a strong and unavoidable requirement for something to happen

implies

suggests a logical outcome rather than a necessary prior condition

takes for granted

is an idiomatic expression often used when an assumption is unproven

preconditions

describes the act of establishing requirements before an event takes place

demands

implies a forceful requirement, often used in moral or strict logical contexts

posits

suggests an active claim or hypothesis rather than a background premise

FAQs

How do I use "presupposes" in a sentence?

You can use "presupposes" to show that one thing depends on the existence of another. For example, Ludwig shows that "Evolution "presupposes the creation" of beings which evolve".

What is the difference between "presupposes" and "implies"?

While ""implies"" refers to what follows as a logical consequence, "presupposes" refers to what must be true beforehand. If A "presupposes" B, then B is a prerequisite for A.

Can I use "assumes" instead of "presupposes"?

Yes, you can use "assumes" in most contexts, but "presupposes" is often preferred in formal philosophy and logic to denote a strict requirement for a statement's truth.

Is "presupposes" too formal for business writing?

It is sophisticated but perfectly acceptable in professional contexts. If you want a simpler alternative, you might try "depends on" or "requires".