1 [with clause] think or assume that something is true or probable but lack proof or certain knowledge:I suppose I got there about noon [with object]:he supposed the girl to be about twelve
used to make a suggestion or a hesitant admission: [in imperative]:suppose we leave this to the policeI’m quite a good actress, I suppose
used to introduce a hypothesis and imagine its development:suppose he had been murdered—what then?
(of a theory or argument) assume or require that something is the case as a precondition:the procedure supposes that a will has already been proved [with object]:the theory supposes a predisposition to interpret utterances
2 (be supposed to do something) be required to do something because of the position one is in or an agreement one has made:I’m supposed to be meeting someone at the airport
[with negative] be forbidden to do something:I shouldn’t have been in the study—I’m not supposed to go in there
I suppose so
used to express hesitant agreement:‘You see I have to do this?’ ‘I suppose so.’
