presumed dead

idiom

: believed to be dead
After the earthquake several people were missing and presumed dead.

Examples of presumed dead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The third member of the trio is still missing and presumed dead. Mason Leath, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025 The only three people on the flight –– all crew members –– are presumed dead, officials said. Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025 The survivor is now presumed dead. Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025 The 58-year-old was identified by authorities as one of 16 workers who was missing and presumed dead in the days that followed the blast. Jay Powell, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for presumed dead

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Presumed dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presumed%20dead. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.

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!