presume

American  

[pri-zoom] / prɪˈzum /

verb (used with object)

presumed, presuming

1. to take for granted, assume, or suppose.

   I presume you're tired after your drive.

   Synonyms:

   presuppose

2. Law. to assume as true in the absence of proof to the contrary.

3. to undertake with unwarrantable boldness.

4. to undertake (to do something) without right or permission.

   to presume to speak for another.

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verb (used without object)

presumed, presuming

1. to take something for granted; suppose.

2. to act or proceed with unwarrantable or impertinent boldness.

   Synonyms:

   overstep

3. to go too far in acting unwarrantably or in taking liberties (usually followed by on orupon ).

   Do not presume upon his tolerance.

presume British  

/ prɪˈzjuːmɪdlɪ, prɪˈzjuːm /

verb

1. (when tr, often takes a clause as object) to take (something) for granted; assume

2. (when tr, often foll by an infinitive) to take upon oneself (to do something) without warrant or permission; dare

   do you presume to copy my work?

3. (intr; foll by on or upon) to rely or depend

   don't presume on his agreement

4. law to take as proved until contrary evidence is produced

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Usage

What is the difference between presume and assume? Presume and assume have very similar meanings—they both mean to suppose that something is true without being able to confirm it. Assume, however, usually implies that the conclusion reached by the person doing the assuming is not based on much. Presume, on the other hand, often implies that the conclusion is based on something a bit stronger, such as some evidence or past situations in which the same thing happened. For example, you might presume that someone will be attending a meeting because they always attend and you have no reason to think they won’t be there. The word assume could also be used in this scenario, but it’s most likely to be used in situations in which there was less of a reason to have come to a certain conclusion. For example, you might assume something about someone you’ve just met based only on how they look (which is never a good idea). A good way to remember this difference in how the two words are used is that the prefix pre- in presume means “before”—when you presume things, you’re often basing that presumption on something that has happened before. As for assume, well, we’ll just assume you know a good way of remembering how it’s used. Presume and assume also have a few meanings that don’t overlap. Presume can mean to undertake or do something without permission or justification, as in I don’t presume to speak for the entire class. Assume can mean to take on, adopt, or be endowed with something, as in I don’t want to assume any new responsibilities. Here are examples of presume and assume used correctly in a sentence. Example: I presumed, based on your resume, that you knew how to work with this software. Example: I assumed you knew what you were doing when you volunteered to bake the cake, but apparently I shouldn’t have. Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between presume and assume.

Other Word Forms

• presumedly
  adverb
• presumer
  noun
• presuming
  adjective
• presumingly
  adverb
• unpresumed
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of presume

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English presumen, from Old French presumer, from Latin praesūmere “to take beforehand” (in Late Latin: “to take for granted, assume, dare”), from prae- pre- + sūmere “to take up” ( cf. consume)

Explanation

If you presume something, it means you act as though it's true before all the evidence is in. If you are presumed to be the fastest runner, don't get too cocky — that word implies that you haven't actually raced yet. To presume is to take something for granted. The famous quote “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” comes from the explorer Henry Morton Stanley, who ran into the explorer David Livingstone in the wilds of Africa in 1871. It’s funny because these were the only two white men known to be in that part of Africa at the time.

Example Sentences

Her tone in “Fascinated to Presume: In Defense of Fiction” is elegiac, as though smartphones have killed off the craft; yet it’s also a manifesto of sorts, and a declaration of her own aesthetics.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 28, 2025

Presume that Harvick won't get tagged with a penalty for causing a caution after bouncing into Trevor Bayne's car.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 25, 2015

Presume intense interest in Harper Lee is primarily if not solely because of school-assigned readings & millions of copies sold.

From Time • Jul. 14, 2015

Presume it wasn't the three minutes before half-time?

From BBC • Jan. 28, 2010

Presume not on thine age and on thy nastiness.

From The Admirable Bashville or, Constancy Unrewarded by Shaw, Bernard

Related Words

• assume
• count on
• guess
• infer
• pretend
• suppose
• surmise