presume

verb

pre·​sume pri-ˈzüm How to pronounce presume (audio)
presumed; presuming

transitive verb

1
: to undertake without leave or clear justification : dare
2
: to expect or assume especially with confidence
3
: to suppose to be true without proof
presumed innocent until proved guilty
4
: to take for granted : imply

intransitive verb

1
: to act or proceed presumptuously or on a presumption
2
: to go beyond what is right or proper
presumer noun

Did you know?

The Difference Between Assume and Presume

Assume and presume both mean "to take something for granted" or "to take something as true," but the words differ in the degree of confidence the person assuming or presuming has. Presume is used when someone is making an informed guess based on reasonable evidence. Assume is used when the guess is based on little or no evidence.

Presume functions a little differently in the legal catchphrase "presumed innocent until proven guilty." That sense of presume is separately defined as "to suppose to be true without proof." It is based on the fact that legal systems grant a defendant the presumption of innocence, thereby placing the burden of proof on the prosecution.

Examples of presume in a Sentence

“Is she still at work?” “I presume so, since she's not home.” The court must presume innocence until there is proof of guilt.
Recent Examples on the Web The East Otay Mesa project proposes a 340-acre landfill and recycling center on a 450-acre site, which voters approved more than a decade ago because disposal capacity was then presumed to be exhausted by 2030. Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024 Only two people obtained permanent housing and more than half of those who went into a shelter later left and were presumed to have returned to the street. Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times, 7 Mar. 2024 The sighting left the team astonished: The species has been presumed extinct in the Atlantic Ocean for more than 200 years. Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024 The busiest single day of the presidential primary calendar came and went quietly this year: Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden swept easy victories on Super Tuesday, coming steps closer to cinching nominations that for months election watchers have presumed would be theirs. Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 Classical physics presumes a sharp division between observer and observed: an experimenter watches but must never interfere with an experiment, lest the results be flawed. The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Smirnov's attorneys have said he is presumed innocent. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 29 Feb. 2024 Over a week later, authorities presumed them dead An American couple, Kathy Brandel and Ralph Hendry, who had been sailing on their yacht in the Caribbean were first reported missing on Feb. 18, 2024. Rebecca Aizin, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024 The species was presumed extinct by the late 1870s. Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'presume.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin & Anglo-French; Anglo-French presumer, from Late Latin praesumere to dare, from Latin, to anticipate, assume, from prae- + sumere to take — more at consume

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of presume was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near presume

Cite this Entry

“Presume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presume. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

presume

verb
pre·​sume pri-ˈzüm How to pronounce presume (audio)
presumed; presuming
1
: to undertake without permission or good reason : dare
presume to question the authority of a superior
2
: to expect or assume with confidence : feel sure
I presume you'll fly if you do go
3
: to suppose to be true without proof
presume a person innocent until proved guilty
presumable
-ˈzü-mə-bəl
adjective

Legal Definition

presume

transitive verb
pre·​sume pri-ˈzüm How to pronounce presume (audio)
presumed; presuming
: to suppose to be true without proof or before inquiry : accept as a presumption
must presume the defendant is innocent

More from Merriam-Webster on presume

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!