WordGarden.iopremise
C1Pronunciation
UK
- /prɪˈmaɪz/uncommonnoun
US
- /ˈprɛmɪs/
Meanings
Noun
a statement or idea accepted as the basis for an argument or theory
the basic situation or concept behind a story, film, or show
in the plural form premises, a building and its surrounding property, especially in legal or business use
Verb
to base or make dependent on an assumption or prior idea
Beyond the definition
Imagine building a house. You don't just start hammering nails randomly; you need a foundation first. A premise is like that foundation for an argument, discussion, or story. It can be a basic assumption, a starting statement, or the main idea that everything else grows from.
Think of a detective story: the premise might be that someone in the room committed the crime. Everything the detective does, from gathering clues to questioning suspects, grows out of that first setup. Or think of a debate: one person may start from the premise that money does not always bring happiness. From there, the whole discussion takes shape. So a premise can be the base of an argument or the central setup of a story.
A premise is the foundation, starting point, or underlying idea on which an argument, theory, or story is built. It is something you begin with before moving on to a conclusion, discussion, or plot. Sometimes it is an assumption, and sometimes it is a statement offered as support. It does not have to be proven first; it is simply where the reasoning or story begins.
In logic and argument, a premise is one of the statements used to support a conclusion. For example: "All men are mortal" is a premise. "Socrates is a man" is another premise. Together they support the conclusion "Socrates is mortal." Without those supporting statements, the conclusion would have nothing to stand on. In this sense, premises are the building blocks of reasoning.
But premise is not limited to formal logic. In storytelling, it refers to the core idea, situation, or setup that drives the plot. The premise of Romeo and Juliet is that two young lovers are kept apart by a bitter family feud. That basic situation shapes all the conflict and emotion that follow.
You might also hear premise in everyday conversation when people explain their thinking. Someone might say, "My premise is that people are basically good," meaning that this is the starting point for their view of human behavior. In that kind of use, the word often means a belief or idea that comes first and guides what follows.
So whether you are building an argument, explaining a belief, or telling a story, a premise is the part that comes first and supports the rest. It is the starting ground from which a conclusion, discussion, or plot can grow.
Examples
- 1
Story idea
The movie has a simple premise: two strangers agree to swap apartments for a month.
- 2
Argument basis
Her argument rests on the premise that people learn better when they feel safe.
- Patternrest on the premise that
depend on the idea that
- 3
Logic
If the first premise is wrong, the whole conclusion falls apart.
- 4
False assumption
The plan was based on the false premise that demand would keep rising.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Agreement terms
We agreed to help on the premise that the work would be finished by Friday.
- Patternon the premise that
because we accepted the idea that
- 6
Building access
Visitors must sign in before entering the premises.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Do not confuse
Used with (collocations)
- basic premise
- underlying premise
- false premise
- on the premise that
Word family
Explore
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- premisenounverb
Forms
- premisespluralnounverb
- premisedpast tenseverbnoun
- premising-ing formverbnoun