suppose

/səˈpəʊz/

//səˈpəʊz// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"suppose" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“suppose” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #2,703 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#2,703
frequency rank, English
7
letters
8
tracked misspellings
4
confusable pairs

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To take for granted; to conclude, with less than absolute supporting data; to believe.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

suppose vs supposed
88% similar
suppose vs supple
71% similar
suppose vs support
71% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for suppose
PropertyValue
Headwordsuppose
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/səˈpəʊz/
Letters7
Frequency rank#2,703
Misspellings tracked8
Confusable pairs4
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “suppose” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). suppose lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for suppose is 7 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /səˈpəʊz/. Corpus data places it at rank #2,703 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 6 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 8 likely wrong-spelling variants for suppose, with forms such as "spupose", "ssuppose", and "supopse". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. It also participates in 4 confusable-pair relationships, "supposed", "supple", "support", and more, since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English supposen, borrowed from Old French supposer, equivalent to prefix sub- (“under”) + poser (“to place”); corresponding in meaning to Latin supponere (“to put under, to substitute, falsify, counterfeit”), suppositum. See pose. The correct English form is suppose, spelled S-U-P-P-O-S-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To take for granted; to conclude, with less than absolute supporting data; to believe.
  2. 2
    To theorize or hypothesize.
  3. 3
    To imagine; to believe; to receive as true.
  4. 4
    To reckon to be, to account or esteem as.
  5. 5
    To require to exist or to be true; to imply by the laws of thought or of nature.
  6. 6
    To put by fraud in the place of another; to substitute fraudulently.

Etymology

From Middle English supposen, borrowed from Old French supposer, equivalent to prefix sub- (“under”) + poser (“to place”); corresponding in meaning to Latin supponere (“to put under, to substitute, falsify, counterfeit”), suppositum. See pose.

Synonyms

assume (1,2)arreadassumefancyconjectconjecturedaresaydopeforeguessgo out on a limbguessguesstimatehunchhypothesizehypotheticateimagineinferoverhopepositpostulatepresumereckonspeculatesupposesurmisesuspecttake a stab attake for grantedtake something as readtheorizeween

This word in other languages

suponer(Español)supposer(Français)annehmen(Deutsch)supor(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: spupose,ssuppose,supopse,supose,suppoes,supposse,suppsoe,usppose

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of suppose - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

spupose2ssuppose1supopse2supose1suppoes2supposse1suppsoe2usppose2
Edit distance from "suppose"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "suppose"?
"suppose" is spelled S-U-P-P-O-S-E. The IPA pronunciation is /səˈpəʊz/.
What does "suppose" mean?
As a verb, "suppose" means: To take for granted; to conclude, with less than absolute supporting data; to believe.
What words are commonly confused with "suppose"?
"suppose" is commonly confused with "supposed", "supple", "support". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "suppose"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "suppose" is /səˈpəʊz/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "suppose"?
From Middle English supposen, borrowed from Old French supposer, equivalent to prefix sub- (“under”) + poser (“to place”); corresponding in meaning to Latin supponere (“to put under, to substitute, falsify, counterfeit”), suppositum. See pose. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “suppose”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is S-U-P-P-O-S-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /səˈpəʊz/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “supposed” - see the side-by-side comparison. suppose vs supposed
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list