presumptive

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adjective pre·sump·tive \ -ˈzəm(p)-tiv \

Definition of presumptive

1 :based on probability or presumption

the presumptive nominee

2 :giving grounds for reasonable opinion or belief

3 :being an embryonic precursor with the potential for forming a particular structure or tissue in the normal course of development

presumptive retina

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presumptively

adverb

Examples of presumptive in a Sentence

in that climate of fear, an accusation alone was presumptive evidence of guilt

Recent Examples of presumptive from the Web

One of my aunts or cousins might make a presumptive comment about everyone going to church.

— steven strom, Ars Technica, "How playing Edith Finch was like losing my religion again," 5 Aug. 2017
Trump wore the same dress in May 2016, when Donald Trump won the Indiana primary, becoming the presumptive Republican nominee for president.

— erika harwood, Vanities, "Melania Trump Has Begun Repeating Dresses," 1 Aug. 2017
When Trump won the Indiana primary, Priebus preemptively declared him the presumptive nominee.

— molly ball, The Atlantic, "The Final Humiliation of Reince Priebus," 30 July 2017
Porter, who is the consensus top basketball prospect in the 2017 recruiting class and the presumptive top pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, started summer school at MU last month.

— tod palmer, kansascity, "Mizzou freshman Michael Porter Jr. astounds during summer workouts," 27 July 2017
Anderson called it presumptive to anticipate another duel with Zawaski.

— gene chamberlain, Naperville Sun, "Erik Anderson and Joe Zawaski can settle score in Naperville Men's Amateur," 13 July 2017
Imagine the men’s favorite with the oddsmakers (Federer) or the men’s third seed (Nadal) or the men’s presumptive No. 1 at the end of the event (Murray) making the same walk and going unmarked for five minutes.

— jon wertheim, SI.com, "Mailbag: Djokovic's retirement, court assignments and more from Wimbledon," 12 July 2017
The presumptive explanation is that the non-caffeine components of coffee exert beneficial effects, and fast metabolizers clear caffeine quickly enough to avoid harm from an excessive dose.

— bradley j. fikes, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Coffee drinkers live longer and have lower risk of disease, studies find," 10 July 2017
The support is, if nothing else, a symbolic boost for Krasner, a career defense attorney and the presumptive front-runner to become the city’s next top prosecutor.

— chris palmer, Philly.com, "Amid FOP skepticism, DA candidate Krasner endorsed by black Philly cops' group," 20 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'presumptive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of presumptive

15th century

presumptive Synonyms

Synonyms

credible, creditable, likely, plausible, believable, probable

Medical Dictionary

presumptive

play

adjective pre·sump·tive \ pri-ˈzəm(p)-tiv \

medical Definition of presumptive

1 :expected to develop in a particular direction under normal conditions

presumptive regions of the blastula

2 :being the embryonic precursor of

presumptive neural tissue

Law Dictionary

presumptive

play

adjective pre·sump·tive \ pri-ˈzəmp-tiv \

legal Definition of presumptive

1 :based on presumption :presumed to have occurred

a presumptive violation of law

2 :giving grounds for reasonable opinion or belief

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presumptively

adverb

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presumptive

medical Definition of presumptive

Law Dictionary

presumptive

legal Definition of presumptive

presumptively

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