Premise Meaning
Premise Definition & Usage
A statement or proposition from which another is inferred or follows as a conclusion; a foundational idea or assumption.
Examples
- "The premise of the novel is that technology will eventually surpass human intelligence."
- "Our argument is built on the premise that all humans deserve equal rights."
- "The movie’s premise centers around a group of survivors trying to escape a post-apocalyptic city."
- "The premise of the experiment is that plants grow faster under certain light conditions."
- "Her entire speech was based on the premise that education is the key to solving global issues."
A building or location, typically in the context of business or institutional use.
Examples
- "The company recently moved to larger premises to accommodate their growing staff."
- "The school has new premises for the library and student services."
- "The restaurant decided to relocate to more spacious premises downtown."
- "They’re opening a new premises in the city center next month."
- "The premises were secured for the event, with all the necessary facilities in place."
Cultural Context
The word 'premise' comes from the Latin 'praemittere', which originally referred to sending something before. Over time, it evolved into its modern meanings, especially in logic and formal discourse. In logical terms, the premise is the foundation of an argument or theory, while in everyday use, it has come to also refer to the physical location of a business or institution.
The Premise of Change
Story
The Premise of Change
Emily had always believed that a good story started with a solid premise. As she sat down to write her latest novel, she reflected on the premise that had been dancing in her head for months. It was simple yet powerful: 'A world where people can live forever, but at the cost of their memories.' This was the foundation on which her entire story would unfold. But before she could dive deeper into the plot, she received an email from her publisher. 'We need to discuss the premises for the new office building,' it read. She paused. This wasn’t the type of premise she had in mind. The publisher wanted to relocate their offices, and they were looking at a few different premises in the city. Emily had seen the new location a few weeks earlier—a modern building with sleek glass windows and plenty of space for the creative team. It was a physical premise, not a theoretical one, but still important in its own way. Later that evening, Emily returned to her story, where the premise of immortality began to take shape. The main character, Alex, had just discovered that the world’s most powerful corporation had been offering immortality—but only to those willing to erase their past lives. He would have to decide whether the premise of eternal life was worth the cost of his memories. As Emily typed the final sentence, she smiled, realizing that both the business and creative premises in her life had their own special place, but they were intertwined in the way she thought about the world. It was the premise of her story that had inspired her most—just as the premise of a good office could spark new possibilities for her team.
Related Words
