Word forms: plural premiseslanguage note: The spelling premiss is also used in British English for meaning [sense 2].
1. plural noun [oft on theN]
The premises of a business or an institution are all the buildings and land that it occupies in one place.
There is a kitchen on the premises.
The business moved to premises in Brompton Road.
2. countable noun [oft NOUN that]
A premise is something that you suppose is true and that you use as a basis for developing an idea.
[formal]
The premise is that schools will work harder to improve if they must compete.
The programme started from the premise that men and women are on equal terms in thissociety.
Synonyms: assumption, proposition, thesis, ground More Synonyms of premise
More Synonyms of premise
premise in British English
noun (ˈprɛmɪs)
1. Also: premiss logic
a statement that is assumed to be true for the purpose of an argument from which a conclusion is drawn
verb (prɪˈmaɪz, ˈprɛmɪs)
2. (when tr, may take a clause as object)
to state or assume (a proposition) as a premise in an argument, theory, etc
Word origin
C14: from Old French prémisse, from Medieval Latin praemissa sent on before, from Latin praemittere to dispatch in advance, from prae before + mittere to send
premise in American English
(ˈprɛmɪs; for v., Chiefly British prɪˈmaɪz)
noun
1.
a.
a previous statement or assertion that serves as the basis for an argument
b. Logic
either of the two propositions of a syllogism from which the conclusion is drawn
see also syllogism
also sp. Chiefly British ˈpremiss
2. [pl.]
a.
the part of a deed or lease that states the parties involved, the property in conveyance, and other pertinent facts
b.
the property so mentioned
3. [pl.]
a piece of real estate; house or building and its land
keep off the premises
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈpremised or ˈpremising
4.
to state as a premise
5.
to introduce or preface (a discourse, etc.)
verb intransitive
6.
to make a premise
SIMILAR WORDS: preˈsume
Word origin
ME premisse < ML praemissa < L praemissus, pp. of praemittere, to send before < prae-, before + mittere, to send: see pre- & mission
Examples of 'premise' in a sentence
premise
The premise that good head teachers can improve schools is the heart of the problem.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Their secret is to coincide their tech refresh with a move to new, cheaper premises.
Computing (2010)
They both lived in the business premises and family home in Lincoln.
The Sun (2016)
The basic premise is that a time machine has been stolen by a master criminal, who goes back in time to change history.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
LK writes: We want to move business premises to reduce costs.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They constantly bounce ideas off each other, work on the premise that anything is possible and are so in tune that they finish each other's sentences.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Some churches are very happy to have their premises used by groups.
Aiken, Nick Working with Teenagers (1994)
Many of them work in partnerships and own their business premises jointly.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The trainers then have to pay a club to work on the premises.
The Sun (2012)
Many will question the premise of his argument.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Does your church rent a portion of its premises to one or more outside groups?
Christianity Today (2000)
The premise in his new book is that history ought always to repeat itself.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The basic premise of sport is that participants are there to win.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Running costs will be shared between licensed premises.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
My husband wants to take this within the next year and let his business premises to supplement the income.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He was a solicitor and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new premises were ready.
Arthur Conan Doyle The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1892)
Mostly period flats above commercial premises.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In football, there is no more beautiful premise than the idea that attack always wins out.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The film's premise serves no purpose.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The premise of the programme was simple: are people kind?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The company provides about 60 per cent of its product to the public sector and commercial premises.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It has a cute premise, one rich in comic and dramatic potential.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The premises must also have a suitable design and layout, and measures must be in place to ensure its security.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The judge below had said that the claimant was on the premises for the purpose of using the machine which was the cause of hisaccident.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In fact, you could probably predict the outcome, given only the most basic idea of the premise.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The premise of this programme is that it's meant to be funny, a cringing trip down memory lane.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Chinese translation of 'premise'
premise
(ˈprɛmɪs) (frm)
n(c)
[of argument]前提 (qiántí) (个(個), gè)
Derived Forms
premisesn pl[of business, institution, school]地产(產) (dìchǎn) : on the premises (= in the buildings) 在屋内(內) (zài wū nèi) (= outside) 在房屋周围(圍) (zài fángwū zhōuwéi)
Nearby words of
premise
premier
Premier League
première
premise
premium
premonition
preoccupied
(noun)
Definition
a statement that is assumed to be true and is used as a basis for an argument
the premise that men and women are on equal terms in this society
Synonyms
assumption
They are wrong in their assumption that we are all alike.
proposition
the proposition that monarchs derived their authority by divine right
thesis
His central thesis is that it's crucial to document as many dying languages as possible.
ground
argument
hypothesis
Different hypotheses have been put forward.
assertion
postulate
supposition
There's a popular supposition that we're publicly funded.
presupposition
the presupposition that human life must be sustained for as long as possible
postulation
(verb)
The plan is premised on continuing abundant tax returns.
Synonyms
predicate
found
The town was founded in 1610.
build
I wanted to build a relationship with my team.
ground
Her argument was grounded in fact.
establish
They established the school in 1989.
posit
Several writers have posited the idea of a universal consciousness.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of build
Definition
to establish and develop
I wanted to build a relationship with my team.
Synonyms
establish,
start,
begin,
found,
base,
set up,
institute,
constitute,
initiate,
originate,
formulate,
inaugurate
in the sense of establish
Definition
to create or set up (an organization, link, etc.)
They established the school in 1989.
Synonyms
set up,
found,
start,
create,
institute,
organize,
install,
constitute,
inaugurate
in the sense of found
The town was founded in 1610.
Synonyms
erect,
build,
construct,
raise,
settle
Synonyms of 'premise'
premise
Explore 'premise' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of ground
Definition
to provide a basis for
Her argument was grounded in fact.
Synonyms
base,
found,
establish,
set,
settle,
fix
in the sense of hypothesis
Definition
a suggested explanation for a group of facts, accepted either as a basis for further verification or as likely to be true
Different hypotheses have been put forward.
Synonyms
theory,
premise,
proposition,
assumption,
thesis,
postulate,
supposition,
premise
in the sense of posit
Definition
to lay down as a basis for argument
Several writers have posited the idea of a universal consciousness.
Synonyms
put forward,
advance,
submit,
state,
assume,
assert,
presume,
predicate,
postulate (formal),
propound
in the sense of presupposition
the presupposition that human life must be sustained for as long as possible
Synonyms
assumption,
theory,
belief,
premise,
hypothesis,
presumption,
preconception,
supposition,
preconceived idea
in the sense of proposition
Definition
a statement that affirms or denies something and is capable of being true or false
the proposition that monarchs derived their authority by divine right
Synonyms
theory,
idea,
argument,
concept,
thesis,
hypothesis,
theorem,
premise,
postulation
in the sense of supposition
Definition
an idea or a statement believed or assumed to be true
There's a popular supposition that we're publicly funded.
Synonyms
belief,
idea,
notion,
view,
theory,
speculation,
assumption,
hypothesis,
presumption,
conjecture,
postulate,
surmise,
guesswork,
guess
in the sense of thesis
Definition
an unproved statement put forward as a premise in an argument
His central thesis is that it's crucial to document as many dying languages as possible.