premise
2 synonyms and 0 antonyms for premise, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A statement or idea assumed to be true and used as the basis for an argument or story.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
How to use premise
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French premisse, from Medieval Latin premissa ("set before"), from Latin praemittere ("to send before"), from prae- ("before") plus mittere ("to send").
Full origin of premise →Frequently asked questions
What does “premise” mean?
The word “premise” means a statement or idea assumed to be true and used as the basis for an argument or story. In plain terms, a starting assumption or idea that an argument, plan, or story is built on.
How do you pronounce “premise”?
“Premise” is pronounced PREHM-ihs (/ˈpɹɛm.ɪs/ in IPA).
How do you use “premise” in a sentence?
Here is “premise” used in a sentence: “His whole argument rests on a shaky premise.”
What part of speech is “premise”?
Depending on how it is used, “premise” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “premise” come from?
The word “premise” comes from Medieval Latin. From Old French premisse, from Medieval Latin premissa ("set before"), from Latin praemittere ("to send before"), from prae- ("before") plus mittere ("to send").
Is “premise” a common word?
“Premise” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “premise” have?
“Premise” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a statement or idea assumed to be true and used as the basis for an argument or story.
What is the difference between premise and premises?
Premise, singular, refers to a statement or assumption used as the basis for an argument or story. Premises, which is grammatically plural but refers to a single property, means a building and its land, such as business premises; the two words are unrelated in meaning despite looking similar.
How is premise used when talking about a story or film?
When applied to fiction, premise refers to the basic idea or assumption a story is built on, such as a world where time travel is possible. Reviewers and writers often discuss whether a film's premise is original or well executed.
What does it mean to premise an argument on something?
To premise an argument on something means to base it on a stated assumption, using that assumption as the starting point for the reasoning that follows. If the premise is false, the argument built on it may not hold up.