verb
Uncommon
presume
prih-ZYOOM
Presume (verb) means to accept something as true or likely without direct proof. Example: “The jury is instructed to presume the defendant innocent until proven guilty.”
verb
1
To accept something as true or likely without direct proof.
"The jury is instructed to presume the defendant innocent until proven guilty."
"I presume you've already read the report."
"Seeing the lights off, I presumed that everyone had already gone home."
2
To act boldly without proper authority or permission.
"He presumed to speak on behalf of the whole department."
"I would never presume to tell you how to run your business."
"Who are you to presume to make that decision for us?"
How to use presume
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo assume something is true, or to overstep and act as if you have a right you don't actually have.
Common pairings
presume to
presumed innocent
I presume
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- presumes
- Past tense
- presumed
Fill the gap
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The jury is instructed to _____ the defendant innocent until proven guilty.
Etymology
From Latin praesumere, "to take beforehand, to anticipate," from prae- ("before") + sumere ("to take").
Related words
Rhymes for presume
See all rhymes for presume →Frequently asked questions
What does “presume” mean?
The word “presume” means to accept something as true or likely without direct proof. In plain terms, to assume something is true, or to overstep and act as if you have a right you don't actually have.
How do you pronounce “presume”?
“Presume” is pronounced prih-ZYOOM (/pɹɪˈz(j)um/ in IPA).
How do you use “presume” in a sentence?
Here is “presume” used in a sentence: “The jury is instructed to presume the defendant innocent until proven guilty.”
What part of speech is “presume”?
“Presume” is a verb.
Where does the word “presume” come from?
The word “presume” comes from Latin. From Latin praesumere, "to take beforehand, to anticipate," from prae- ("before") + sumere ("to take").
Is “presume” a common word?
“Presume” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “presume” have?
“Presume” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to accept something as true or likely without direct proof.
What is the difference between presume and assume?
Presume often implies accepting something as true based on some reasonable evidence or likelihood, while assume can suggest accepting something as true with little or no supporting basis. Presume also carries a second sense, meaning to act boldly without proper authority, which assume does not share.
What does it mean to "presume" without proper authority?
In this sense, presume means to act boldly without proper authority or permission, such as presuming to speak on someone else's behalf. This usage focuses on overstepping one's role rather than on believing something is true.
Why do people say "I presume" in polite conversation?
Saying 'I presume' signals that the speaker is accepting something as true or likely without direct proof, often as a polite, tentative way to state an assumption rather than asserting it as certain fact.
