supposed to define

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'supposed to' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express an expectation or assumption about something. For example: "I'm supposed to be at work by 8am."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

That is supposed to define those hours.

The Guardian

They're supposed to define a creed and establish boundaries.

The New York Times

They did not have the thing that is supposed to define them: control.

The Guardian - Sport

Özil was supposed to define the endgame of the late Wenger years.

The Guardian - Sport

"The terms are supposed to define what are otherwise very nebulous concepts," he said.

The New York Times

It will not thrive, either, his critics contend, by shedding the principles supposed to define it.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

For instance, let us suppose to define the local probability (P_l^{* rightarrow Y}) to become a cheater begin{aligned} P_l^{*rightarrow Y}(i,j = displaystyle frac{n^{c}_{l}(i,j)}{N_l} end{aligned} (19 where (n^{c}_{l}(i,j)) is the number of people (including himself) which are the neighbors of individual (i, j) who are already cheaters.

Mathematical Sciences

Which is one way, I suppose, to define Los Angeles exceptionalism.

Huffington Post

Here f is supposed to be defined on a q-geometric set (Asubset mathbb{R}) for which (qtin A) whenever (tin A); see [3 11].

Advances in Difference Equations

Here f is supposed to be defined on a q-geometric set A ⊂ R, for which q t ∈ A whenever t ∈ A, see [3 10].

Advances in Difference Equations

Here f is supposed to be defined on a q-geometric set (Asubset{mathbb{R}}), for which (qtin A) whenever (tin A).

Advances in Difference Equations

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "supposed to define" when indicating a generally accepted expectation, purpose, or function. It's useful when describing roles, responsibilities, or intended outcomes.

Common error

Avoid using "supposed to define" when describing factual, verifiable information. It's better suited for expectations or planned outcomes, not established truths.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "supposed to define" functions as an infinitive phrase indicating a prescribed or anticipated role, function, or purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage across diverse contexts, expressing expectations or intended outcomes.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

7%

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "supposed to define" is a common and grammatically correct infinitive phrase used to indicate a normative expectation or intended purpose. Ludwig AI confirms its widespread use across contexts like News & Media and Science. It is best used to express what something is expected to do based on a general agreement or plan. Alternatives such as "meant to define" or "intended to define" can be used for subtle variations in meaning. When writing, avoid using "supposed to define" for factual certainties; reserve it for expectations or planned outcomes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

meant to define

Replaces 'supposed' with 'meant', suggesting a purpose or intention rather than an expectation.

intended to define

Substitutes 'supposed' with 'intended', highlighting a planned or deliberate action.

expected to define

Replaces 'supposed' with 'expected', emphasizing anticipation or prediction.

designed to define

Changes 'supposed' to 'designed', focusing on the intended function or design.

purported to define

Uses 'purported' instead of 'supposed', suggesting a claim or assertion that may or may not be true.

claimed to define

Replaces 'supposed' with 'claimed', indicating an assertion that may be subject to doubt.

ought to define

Substitutes 'supposed' with 'ought', expressing a moral obligation or duty.

should define

Replaces 'supposed to' with 'should', suggesting a recommendation or advice.

set to define

Uses 'set' instead of 'supposed', implying a planned or scheduled action.

destined to define

Replaces 'supposed' with 'destined', indicating a predetermined or inevitable outcome.

FAQs

How can I use "supposed to define" in a sentence?

Use "supposed to define" when indicating an expected function or role. For example, "The constitution is supposed to define the rights of citizens".

What's the difference between "supposed to define" and "intended to define"?

"Supposed to define" suggests a general expectation, while "intended to define" emphasizes a specific plan or intention. The first can be understood as more generic compared to the second.

What are some alternatives to "supposed to define"?

You can use alternatives like "meant to define", "expected to define", or "designed to define" depending on the specific context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "supposed to defined"?

No, "supposed to defined" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "supposed to define", where "define" is the base form of the verb.