presumptuous

adjective

pre·​sump·​tu·​ous pri-ˈzəm(p)-chə-wəs 

-chəs, 

-shəs

1

: too confident in an expectation or assumption especially in a way that is rude

It would be presumptuous of me to tell you how to do your job.

… he greets with a dry chuckle a young soldier presumptuous enough to fight with him …

—Julius Novick

Poll graduates and you'll learn that most … prefer money. Any other kind of gift carries the message that the giver knows better what the recipient wants or needs, and young people find this … presumptuous.

—Hosea Martin

2

: done or made without permission, right, or good reason

a presumptuous question

He charges three hundred and fifty dollars an hour—a confident but not presumptuous price in Manhattan …

—Larissa MacFarquhar

presumptuously adverb

presumptuousness noun

Synonyms of presumptuous

• immodest
• arrogant
• bold
• forward
• proud
• smug
• overfamiliar
• selfish

Examples of presumptuous in a Sentence

To Yale University, he was David Sneed. And some people called him that. Close friends called him Marc. Not wanting to appear presumptuous, I tried not to commit to either, waiting instead for a signal. —Peter Beinart, New Republic, 22 Jan. 1996

Professor Stegner mistook me, I fear, for an anti-intellectual, not understanding that I was in fact something far less presumptuous—a near-illiterate, especially compared to the rest of his blue-chip roster. —Ken Kesey, New York Times Book Review, 31 Dec. 1989

To spy out the shape of God's Heaven was superfluous, presumptuous, and might prove blasphemous. Galileo was no better than a theological Peeping Tom. —Daniel J. Boorstin, The Discoverers, 1983

it's a little presumptuous of you to assume that I'm your new best friend just because I invited you along

the presumptuous doctor didn't even bother to explain to me the treatment that I would be receiving

Recent Examples on the Web

The adult who strives for a more bespoke level of gift-giving—or simply to find something with no connection to screens, mirrors, or fads—risks coming off as presumptuous and pretentious. —Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 15 Nov. 2025

The request felt presumptuous, especially given the logistics involved. —Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 13 Nov. 2025

On its face, this behavior is perplexing, presumptuous even. —R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 11 Oct. 2025

Thanks in advance' This phrase can seem presumptuous, undermining the other person's ability to say no. —Melody Wilding, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French presumptious, from Late Latin praesumptuosus, irregular from praesumptio — see presume

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

presumptuous

adjective

pre·​sump·​tu·​ous pri-ˈzəm(p)-ch(ə-w)əs 

: going beyond what is proper

presumptuously adverb

presumptuousness noun