Premise Synonyms | Uses & Examples
Premise is a noun meaning “something taken as true and used as the basis for an argument or theory.” It is also a verb meaning “to base an argument or theory on.”
Some synonyms for premise are:
- Assumption
- Assertion
- Presumption
- Proposition
- Thesis
- Postulate
- Predicate
- Presuppose
- Presume
- Assume
To find more synonyms for premise, use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser.
Table of contents
Premise synonyms
When it means “something taken as true and used as the basis for an argument or theory,” some synonyms for premise are stronger matches than others. “Assumption” or “assertion,” for example, are good overall replacements.
On the other hand, weak synonyms have slightly different meanings. “Tenet” means “a principle or belief” (often with a religious or philosophical connotation), and “foundation” is “an underlying principle.”
| Match | Synonym | Premise example | Synonym example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongest | Assumption | Her research is based on a strong premise. | Her research is based on a strong assumption. |
| Assertion | Their central premise was questioned during the debate. | Their central assertion was questioned during the debate. | |
| Presumption | The premise that humans are rational is debatable. | The presumption that humans are rational is debatable. | |
| Proposition | A syllogism is an argument with two premises and a conclusion. | A syllogism is an argument with two propositions and a conclusion. | |
| Thesis | The article’s premise lacks supporting evidence. | The article’s thesis lacks supporting evidence. | |
| Strong | Hypothesis | String theory is based on the premise that the building blocks of the universe are not point-like particles, but one-dimensional strings. | String theory is based on the hypothesis that the building blocks of the universe are not point-like particles, but one-dimensional strings. |
| Theory | Mark’s premise doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. | Mark’s theory doesn’t hold up under scrutiny. | |
| Presupposition | The theory relies on the premise that language shapes thought. | The theory relies on the presupposition that language shapes thought. | |
| Weak | Tenet | The premise of free speech is protected by our constitution. | The tenet of free speech is protected by our constitution. |
| Foundation | Utilitarianism is based on the premise that the morally right action is the one that produces the most overall happiness. | Utilitarianism is based on the foundation that the morally right action is the one that produces the most overall happiness. |
Some synonyms for premise with this meaning are:
- Plot
- Story
- Storyline
- Idea
Similarly, when premise is used as a verb, some synonyms align more closely than others. Note that presume and assume both mean “to view as true,” but “presume” implies reasoning or probability, and “assume” implies there is no evidence.
| Match | Synonym | Premise example | Synonym example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongest | Postulate | The theory premises that language shapes perception. | The theory postulates that language shapes perception. |
| Predicate | Plato’s aesthetics premises the existence of ideal forms. | Plato’s aesthetics predicates the existence of ideal forms. | |
| Presuppose | Jane’s dissertation premises a shared cultural knowledge. | Jane’s dissertation presupposes a shared cultural knowledge. | |
| Presume | Your critique premises that readers know the context. | Your critique presumes that readers know the context. | |
| Assume | This model premises an increase in demand over time. | This model assumes an increase in demand over time. | |
| Strong | Hypothesize | Cultivation theory premises that watching TV affects our worldview over time. | Cultivation theory hypothesizes that watching TV affects our worldview over time. |
| Claim | His article premises that happiness correlates with income. | His article claims that happiness correlates with income. | |
| Weak | Believe | The author of this blog post premises that gamified apps make learning easier. | The author of this blog post believes that gamified apps make learning easier. |
| Think | The speaker premises that technology will solve climate change. | The speaker thinks that technology will solve climate change. |
- Grounds
- Site
- Location
- Facility
- Campus
In British English, “campus” only refers to a university, while in American English, it can refer to the premises of other types of institutions (e.g., “the company’s Austin campus”).
Frequently asked questions about premise synonyms
- What’s the meaning of on premise?
-
“On-premises” (sometimes misspelled as “on premise”) means “in house” or “on the property.”
“Premises” here means “a property or building.” A few synonyms for premises are “grounds,” “site,” or “location.”
“On premises” can refer to something within a property or building (e.g., “There is a gym on premises”).
In the context of technology, on-premises also describes computer hardware or software that is physically hosted on an organization’s own property, rather than in the cloud or on external servers.
To make sure you’re using “on premises” correctly in your writing, try QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker.
- What’s the meaning of off premise?
-
“Off premises” (sometimes misspelled as “off premise”) means “outside of a specific property or location.”
“Premises” here means “a property or building.” A few synonyms for premises are “grounds,” “facility,” or “site.”
“Off premises” can refer to something that is located outside of the building or property in question (e.g., “Alcohol purchased in this shop must be consumed off premises”).
With respect to technology, “off premises” refers to software or hardware hosted outside of an organization’s physical location, like on the cloud.
A Quillbot grammar check can make sure you’re using “off premises” correctly.
- What is the definition of premise?
-
A premise is the basis for an argument. It is a foundational element upon which further conclusions or deductions are made. Premises play an especially important role in syllogisms, which express deductive reasoning.
A few synonyms for premise are “assumption,” “assertion,” and “hypothesis.”
