to postulate

Examples

• All

• Scientists often postulate that dark matter makes up most of the universe, even though it cannot be directly observed.

• Jungian theory also postulates that personality types are innate and do not change over time.

  Academic text (2004)

• I think what you have done is postulate a theory that could be of enormous benefit.

  Lorenzo's Oil (1992)

• And the leap is that we postulate that this is now a quantum.

• Subsequent sections consider the evidence for and against the main postulated causes of this advantage.

  Academic text (2006)

• The general relationships it postulates between the concepts may not hold up to closer scrutiny.

  Academic text (2007)

• They do exist, or at least we have to postulate that they exist, Kant says.

• One theory postulates a windborne pathogen and points to clusters associated with certain weather patterns.

  Academic text (2012)

• Our model postulates individual variability in this propensity for inhibition of sexual arousal.

  Academic text (2005)

• The researchers postulate that human behavior is influenced significantly by social and environmental factors.

Synonyms

R

to require

vsto postulate

∞ 1.1

Need something because a rule or situation makes it necessary

is more flexible, also covering assumed prerequisites not only formal needs

A

to assume

vsto postulate

∞ 3.2

Think something is true without proof

can also mean accepting something as a required prerequisite rather than mere belief

P

to presume

vsto postulate

267 4.9

To suppose something is true without proof

is similar but extends to treating that supposition as a needed condition

C

to call for

vsto postulate

267 3.2

Need something because the situation makes it necessary

is broader, applying to assumed or stated prerequisites, not only practical needs

D

to demand

vsto postulate

202 2.1

To need something because a job or situation must have it

can express insistence but also simple acceptance of a prior condition

S

to stipulate

vsto postulate

• Formal

40 7.2

Say clearly and officially that something must happen in an agreement

is less formal, covering assumed prerequisites beyond formal contractual terms

N

to necessitate

vsto postulate

• Formal

25 6.3

To make something needed as a result

also covers accepting a condition beforehand rather than causing that necessity

P

to presuppose

vsto postulate

15 8.3

Assume something to be true before you can say or do something

is broader, covering both treating as necessary and treating as assumed

S

to suppose

vsto postulate

• Formal

2 5.3

To need something to be true before something else can happen

is more general, also including less certain assumptions as premises

Compounds

E

Euclid's postulate

• Specialized

1 8.7

One of the five basic rules that make Euclidean geometry

B

Bayes' postulate

• Specialized

9.3

An assumption that all possible causes are equally likely when there is no information

How Necessary

to require

∞ 1.1

to postulate

• Formal

1 7.8

to posit

• Formal

36 7.5

to assume

∞ 3.2

Surface Forms

Etymology