used for the purpose of argument to indicate a premise on which a statement can be based

assuming that the treaty is ratified, what is its relevance?

arrogant or presumptuous

suppose to be the case, without proof

topics which assume detailed knowledge of local events

it is reasonable to assume that such changes have significant social effects

they were assumed to be foreign

take or begin to have (power or responsibility)

he assumed full responsibility for all organizational work

begin to have (a specified quality, appearance, or extent)

militant activity had assumed epidemic proportions