verb
presume
prih-ZYOOM
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."
2
To act boldly without proper authority or permission.
"He presumed to speak on behalf of the whole department."
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
Word Forms
presumed past tense, presumes singular
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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").