variants
or less commonly premiss
1
a
: a proposition antecedently supposed or proved as a basis of argument or inference
specifically
: either of the first two propositions of a syllogism from which the conclusion is drawn
b
: something assumed or taken for granted : presupposition
2
premises also premisses plural
: matters previously stated
specifically
: the preliminary and explanatory part of a deed or of a bill in equity
3
premises also premisses plural
[from its being identified in the premises of the deed]
a
: a tract of land with the buildings thereon
b
: a building or part of a building usually with its appurtenances (such as grounds)
premised; premising
1
a
: to set forth beforehand as an introduction or a postulate
b
: to offer as a premise in an argument
2
3
: to base on certain assumptions
Synonyms
Examples of premise in a Sentence
Noun
Called behavioral ecology, it starts from the premise that social and environmental forces select for various behaviors that optimize people's fitness in a given environment. Different environment, different behaviors—and different human "natures."
—
Sharon Begley, Newsweek, 29 June 2009
Although the Voting Rights Act served, in some measure, to formalize the notion of racial representation, its consequences undermined its premise—that a transparency of interests existed between the representative and the represented.
—Henry Louis Gates, Jr., New Yorker, 24 Oct. 1994
Thirty years ago the modesty of the general expectation was still consistent with the original American premise of self-government.
—Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, November 1992
They were asked to leave the premises.
The company leases part of the premises to smaller businesses.
The premises were searched by the police.
He disagreed with her premise.
the basic premises of the argument
a theory based on the simple premise that what goes up must come down
Verb
Niebuhr … adhered to a form of liberalism more premised on a realistic assessment of human nature than Rauschenbusch's naïve progressivism was.
—Alan Wolfe, New York Times Book Review, 21 Oct. 2007
Fears of a nuclear holocaust were fueled by President Nixon's "madman" theory of diplomacy. The madman theory was premised on the assumption that if the Soviets thought that Nixon was crazy enough to drop the bomb, they would leave us alone.
—Will Manley, Booklist, 1 & 15 June 2006
let us premise certain things, such as every person's need for love, before beginning our line of reasoning
Sharon Begley, Newsweek, 29 June 2009
Although the Voting Rights Act served, in some measure, to formalize the notion of racial representation, its consequences undermined its premise—that a transparency of interests existed between the representative and the represented.
—Henry Louis Gates, Jr., New Yorker, 24 Oct. 1994
Thirty years ago the modesty of the general expectation was still consistent with the original American premise of self-government.
—Lewis H. Lapham, Harper's, November 1992
They were asked to leave the premises.
The company leases part of the premises to smaller businesses.
The premises were searched by the police.
He disagreed with her premise.
the basic premises of the argument
a theory based on the simple premise that what goes up must come down
Verb
Niebuhr … adhered to a form of liberalism more premised on a realistic assessment of human nature than Rauschenbusch's naïve progressivism was.
—Alan Wolfe, New York Times Book Review, 21 Oct. 2007
Fears of a nuclear holocaust were fueled by President Nixon's "madman" theory of diplomacy. The madman theory was premised on the assumption that if the Soviets thought that Nixon was crazy enough to drop the bomb, they would leave us alone.
—Will Manley, Booklist, 1 & 15 June 2006
let us premise certain things, such as every person's need for love, before beginning our line of reasoning
Recent Examples on the WebDanny Horn, EW.com, 14 Apr. 2024
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Chicago recently took that premise and expanded on it, filing 83,000 fake job applications for 11,000 entry-level positions at a variety of Fortune 500 companies.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
Like tectonic plates in the earthquake that punctuates that California-set chapter, Bonello’s narrative slips and slides, making the very premise on which the movie stands — along with the two main characters — shaky ground indeed.
—Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Ensure your home is securely locked when vacating the premises.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024
Better Together Most of these apps are based on the central premise that most of us would rather talk to family or close friends than with a pretty stranger shilling snack boxes.
—Adrienne So, WIRED, 8 Apr. 2024
Troconis had already left the premises with the keys.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024
The company opened two more stores in Miami and New York City and a pop-up spot in Southampton, New York, all of which were the premise of three Kardashian spin-off series.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
Personal experience was the premise of Bonnard’s work, and place was at the heart of that experience.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Bill Donahue, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2024
Yet these larger age gaps have opened the door for a new kind of dynamic—one premised more on mentorship than on a battle for limited attention or resources.
—Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024
In at least some cases, borrowers may have taken steps in reliance of the notice that their student loans were discharged — such as leaving public service employment, or purchasing a home and taking out a mortgage premised on no longer having any student loan payments.
—Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Classical education is premised on the idea that there is objective truth, and that the purpose of school is to set kids on a path toward understanding it.
—Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Industry regulations are premised on the idea that workers get three hours of meal time and eight hours of sleep, including five hours of uninterrupted rest.
—Stefanos Chen, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
It was premised on the chains operating in different parts of the country.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024
The book is premised on a counterfactual: What if the American Jewish intellectuals of the interwar period—that is, between the end of the Second World War and the Six-Day War—had been forced to wrestle with Zionism?
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2024
In its loosest definition, post-work polyamory is a relationship form premised on and committed to anti-capitalism.
—TIME, 9 Feb. 2024
Noun
While Tatum originally conceived the film’s premise, based on his own eight-month experience as a male stripper, Magic Mike wasn't intended as a biopic.
—Danny Horn, EW.com, 14 Apr. 2024
Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of Chicago recently took that premise and expanded on it, filing 83,000 fake job applications for 11,000 entry-level positions at a variety of Fortune 500 companies.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024
Like tectonic plates in the earthquake that punctuates that California-set chapter, Bonello’s narrative slips and slides, making the very premise on which the movie stands — along with the two main characters — shaky ground indeed.
—Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 11 Apr. 2024
Ensure your home is securely locked when vacating the premises.
—Star-Telegram Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024
Better Together Most of these apps are based on the central premise that most of us would rather talk to family or close friends than with a pretty stranger shilling snack boxes.
—Adrienne So, WIRED, 8 Apr. 2024
Troconis had already left the premises with the keys.
—Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024
The company opened two more stores in Miami and New York City and a pop-up spot in Southampton, New York, all of which were the premise of three Kardashian spin-off series.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 1 Apr. 2024
Personal experience was the premise of Bonnard’s work, and place was at the heart of that experience.
—Sebastian Smee, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024
Verb
The lawsuit, premised on Astley’s likeness rights, raised big questions about sound-alike songs and sampling, but the dispute was settled on confidential terms in September.
—Bill Donahue, Billboard, 15 Mar. 2024
Yet these larger age gaps have opened the door for a new kind of dynamic—one premised more on mentorship than on a battle for limited attention or resources.
—Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2024
In at least some cases, borrowers may have taken steps in reliance of the notice that their student loans were discharged — such as leaving public service employment, or purchasing a home and taking out a mortgage premised on no longer having any student loan payments.
—Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Classical education is premised on the idea that there is objective truth, and that the purpose of school is to set kids on a path toward understanding it.
—Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024
Industry regulations are premised on the idea that workers get three hours of meal time and eight hours of sleep, including five hours of uninterrupted rest.
—Stefanos Chen, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024
It was premised on the chains operating in different parts of the country.
—Rob Wile, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024
The book is premised on a counterfactual: What if the American Jewish intellectuals of the interwar period—that is, between the end of the Second World War and the Six-Day War—had been forced to wrestle with Zionism?
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 15 Feb. 2024
In its loosest definition, post-work polyamory is a relationship form premised on and committed to anti-capitalism.
—TIME, 9 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'premise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
in sense 1, from Middle English premisse, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin praemissa, from Latin, feminine of praemissus, past participle of praemittere to place ahead, from prae- pre- + mittere to send; in other senses, from Middle English premisses, from Medieval Latin praemissa, from Latin, neuter plural of praemissus
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of premise was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing premise
Articles Related to premise
Dictionary Entries Near premise
Cite this Entry
“Premise.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/premise. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
premise
1 of 2 noun
prem·ise
ˈprem-əs 
1
: a statement taken to be true and used as a basis for argument or reasoning
2
plural
a
: a piece of land with the buildings on it
b
: a building or part of a building usually with its grounds
premise
2 of 2 verb
pre·mise
ˈprem-əs
pri-ˈmīz
premised; premising
: to base on certain assumptions
a conclusion premised on stereotypes
More from Merriam-Webster on premise
Nglish: Translation of premise for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of premise for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about premise
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share