Postulate
verb
Suggest or assume something as true to be the basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief.
In his theory, he postulates that all life forms originated from a common ancestor
Often appears as...
- postulate a theory
- postulate a principle
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
Something accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.
Her argument relies on the postulate that all people are born with equal rights
Often appears as...
- underlying postulate
- fundamental postulate
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
verb
Suggest or assume something as true to be the basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief.
In his theory, he postulates that all life forms originated from a common ancestor
Often appears as...
- postulate a theory
- postulate a principle
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
noun
Something accepted as true or as certain to happen, without proof.
Her argument relies on the postulate that all people are born with equal rights
Often appears as...
- underlying postulate
- fundamental postulate
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Starting Point
Used for presenting the initial assumption that will lead to further arguments or theories.
We postulate that the virus emerged naturally, and then proceed to trace its evolution.
Pro Tip 2/3No Proof Needed
In proposing a new idea, you don't need evidence for a postulate; it's an accepted starting point.
In geometry, we postulate that a straight line can be drawn between any two points.
Pro Tip 3/3Prompts Discussion
Use it to introduce ideas that need examination or debate within a scholarly context.
The scientist postulated a new model to explain dark matter, sparking widespread debate.
Pro Tip 1/3Starting Point
Used for presenting the initial assumption that will lead to further arguments or theories.
We postulate that the virus emerged naturally, and then proceed to trace its evolution.
Pro Tip 2/3No Proof Needed
In proposing a new idea, you don't need evidence for a postulate; it's an accepted starting point.
In geometry, we postulate that a straight line can be drawn between any two points.
Pro Tip 3/3Prompts Discussion
Use it to introduce ideas that need examination or debate within a scholarly context.
The scientist postulated a new model to explain dark matter, sparking widespread debate.
Pro Tip 1/3Starting Point
Used for presenting the initial assumption that will lead to further arguments or theories.
We postulate that the virus emerged naturally, and then proceed to trace its evolution.
Pro Tip 2/3No Proof Needed
In proposing a new idea, you don't need evidence for a postulate; it's an accepted starting point.
In geometry, we postulate that a straight line can be drawn between any two points.
Pro Tip 3/3Prompts Discussion
Use it to introduce ideas that need examination or debate within a scholarly context.
The scientist postulated a new model to explain dark matter, sparking widespread debate.
Never forget "Postulate"
Humans forget easily. That's why you should download WordUp: Smart reminders, word games, AI practice, and much more!
Video examples
The Curious Life of a...
long tracks on the... on the dust, the surface. And we always postulated that they would have to have these dust devils, but we had never seem them. We believe that this is one of the reasons the vehicles have lasted so long. Every so often when these dust devils would come by and clean off my solar arrays and make us happy and we make more power
Video examples
Why bother leaving the...
so be careful what you wish for. Mallory postulated that there is something in man that responds to the challenge of the mountain, and I wonder if that's the case whether there's something in the challenge itself, in the endeavor, and particularly in the big, unfinished, chunky challenges that face humanity
Video examples
Euclid's puzzling...
Euclid laid it all out as a logical system of proof built up from a set of definitions, common notions, and his five famous postulates. Four of these postulates are very simple and straightforward, two points determine a line, for example. The fifth one, however, is the seed that grows our story.
Video examples
Margaret Wertheim: The...
Now, I said that mathematicians thought that this was impossible. Here's two creatures who've never heard of Euclid's parallel postulate -- didn't know it was impossible to violate, and they're simply getting on with it. They've been doing it for hundreds of millions of years.
Video examples
The beautiful math of...
Euclid and general relativity now I said that mathematicians thought this was impossible here is two creatures who never heard of Euclid's parallel postulate didn't know it was impossible to violate and they're simply getting on with it they've been doing it for
Video examples
This Platypus Can Glow...
postulate that they're probably not communicating between each other they're not advertising themselves by hey i'm blowing you know the males aren't going hey i'm going beautifully purple tonight baby it's not one of those sorts of things what that is
Video examples
How do you explain...
Physicists sometimes take some aspects of the universe as fundamental building space and time and mass. They postulate fundamental laws governing them, like the laws of gravity or of quantum mechanics. These fundamental properties and laws
Video examples
Why the universe seems...
embraces the many-worlds interpretation of quantum theory, because the worst that you can say about it is that it's preposterously wasteful. It postulates a vast and rapidly growing number of universes existing in parallel,
Video examples
See an Apocalyptic World...
the city postulates a world post mankind something has happened that's a decimated the human population so these are the city after man is gone and it's just the way that buildings age and crumble and nature takes back some
Video examples
Adam Spencer: Why I fell...
How is it that the things that make us up have no mass? I've clearly got mass. Where does it come from? And he postulated a suggestion that there's this infinite, incredibly small field stretching throughout the universe,
Video examples
The Curious Life of a...
long tracks on the... on the dust, the surface. And we always postulated that they would have to have these dust devils, but we had never seem them. We believe that this is one of the reasons the vehicles have lasted so long. Every so often when these dust devils would come by and clean off my solar arrays and make us happy and we make more power
Video examples
Why bother leaving the...
so be careful what you wish for. Mallory postulated that there is something in man that responds to the challenge of the mountain, and I wonder if that's the case whether there's something in the challenge itself, in the endeavor, and particularly in the big, unfinished, chunky challenges that face humanity
Video examples
Euclid's puzzling...
Euclid laid it all out as a logical system of proof built up from a set of definitions, common notions, and his five famous postulates. Four of these postulates are very simple and straightforward, two points determine a line, for example. The fifth one, however, is the seed that grows our story.
Video examples
Margaret Wertheim: The...
Now, I said that mathematicians thought that this was impossible. Here's two creatures who've never heard of Euclid's parallel postulate -- didn't know it was impossible to violate, and they're simply getting on with it. They've been doing it for hundreds of millions of years.
Video examples
The beautiful math of...
Euclid and general relativity now I said that mathematicians thought this was impossible here is two creatures who never heard of Euclid's parallel postulate didn't know it was impossible to violate and they're simply getting on with it they've been doing it for
Video examples
This Platypus Can Glow...
postulate that they're probably not communicating between each other they're not advertising themselves by hey i'm blowing you know the males aren't going hey i'm going beautifully purple tonight baby it's not one of those sorts of things what that is
Video examples
How do you explain...
Physicists sometimes take some aspects of the universe as fundamental building space and time and mass. They postulate fundamental laws governing them, like the laws of gravity or of quantum mechanics. These fundamental properties and laws
Video examples
Why the universe seems...
embraces the many-worlds interpretation of quantum theory, because the worst that you can say about it is that it's preposterously wasteful. It postulates a vast and rapidly growing number of universes existing in parallel,
Video examples
See an Apocalyptic World...
the city postulates a world post mankind something has happened that's a decimated the human population so these are the city after man is gone and it's just the way that buildings age and crumble and nature takes back some
Video examples
Adam Spencer: Why I fell...
How is it that the things that make us up have no mass? I've clearly got mass. Where does it come from? And he postulated a suggestion that there's this infinite, incredibly small field stretching throughout the universe,
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Tommy Lee Jones
American Actor
My idea in terms of managing a narrative, or in thinking in my creative life, is that you could easily argue that the past, the present and the future all occur simultaneously, and if you can postulate that, then you're not strictly bound to a linear narrative.
Quote examples
Chauncey Wright
American Philosopher
If they are, then the only ultimate truths are the particulars of concrete experience, and no postulate or general assumption is inherent in science until its proceedings become systematic, or the truths already reached give direction to further research.
Quote examples
Jacques Monod
French Scientist
What I have tried to show is that the scientific attitude implies what I call the postulate of objectivity - that is to say, the fundamental postulate that there is no plan, that there is no intention in the universe.
Quote examples
Richard P. Feynman
American Physicist
Often one postulates that a priori, all states are equally probable. This is not true in the world as we see it. This world is not correctly described by the physics which assumes this postulate.
Quote examples
Hans Adolf Krebs
German Physicist
The concept of evolution postulates that living organisms have common roots, and in turn, the existence of common features is powerful support for the concept of evolution.
Quote examples
Elihu Root
American Lawyer
The line of least resistance in the progress of civilization is to make that theoretical postulate real by the continually increasing force of the world's public opinion.
Quote examples
Lao Tzu
Chinese Philosopher
Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.
Quote examples
Ernest Renan
French Philosopher
The liberty of the individual is a necessary postulate of human progress.
Quote examples
Ray Bradbury
American Writer
Fahrenheit 451' postulates a lot of things I didn't want to have happen.
Quote examples
Richard Dawkins
English Scientist
A good theory explains a lot but postulates little.
Quote examples
Tommy Lee Jones
American Actor
My idea in terms of managing a narrative, or in thinking in my creative life, is that you could easily argue that the past, the present and the future all occur simultaneously, and if you can postulate that, then you're not strictly bound to a linear narrative.
Quote examples
Chauncey Wright
American Philosopher
If they are, then the only ultimate truths are the particulars of concrete experience, and no postulate or general assumption is inherent in science until its proceedings become systematic, or the truths already reached give direction to further research.
Quote examples
Jacques Monod
French Scientist
What I have tried to show is that the scientific attitude implies what I call the postulate of objectivity - that is to say, the fundamental postulate that there is no plan, that there is no intention in the universe.
Quote examples
Richard P. Feynman
American Physicist
Often one postulates that a priori, all states are equally probable. This is not true in the world as we see it. This world is not correctly described by the physics which assumes this postulate.
Quote examples
Hans Adolf Krebs
German Physicist
The concept of evolution postulates that living organisms have common roots, and in turn, the existence of common features is powerful support for the concept of evolution.
Quote examples
Elihu Root
American Lawyer
The line of least resistance in the progress of civilization is to make that theoretical postulate real by the continually increasing force of the world's public opinion.
Quote examples
Lao Tzu
Chinese Philosopher
Simulated disorder postulates perfect discipline; simulated fear postulates courage; simulated weakness postulates strength.
Quote examples
Ernest Renan
French Philosopher
The liberty of the individual is a necessary postulate of human progress.
Quote examples
Ray Bradbury
American Writer
Fahrenheit 451' postulates a lot of things I didn't want to have happen.
Quote examples
Richard Dawkins
English Scientist
A good theory explains a lot but postulates little.
Example 1 of 10
WordUp Chrome Extension
As you browse the web instantly look up words you don’t know.
Get Chrome Extension