premise
Premise (noun) means a statement or idea assumed to be true and used as the basis for an argument or story. Example: “His whole argument rests on a shaky premise.”
How to use premise
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA starting assumption or idea that an argument, plan, or story is built on.
Don't confuse the singular "premise" (an assumption) with the plural "premises" (a building and its grounds) — they're historically related but used very differently today.
Word forms
premised past tense, premises plural, premises singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His whole argument rests on a shaky _____.
Etymology
From Old French premisse, from Medieval Latin premissa ("set before"), from Latin praemittere ("to send before"), from prae- ("before") plus mittere ("to send").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for premise
See all rhymes for 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.