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presumably

American  
[pri-zoo-muh-blee] / prɪˈzu mə bli /

adverb

  1. by assuming reasonably; probably.

    Since he is a consistent winner, he is presumably a superior player.

    Synonyms:
    apparently, likely, doubtless

presumably British  
/ prɪˈzjuːməblɪ /

adverb

  1. (sentence modifier) one presumes or supposes that

    presumably he won't see you, if you're leaving tomorrow

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of presumably

First recorded in 1640–50; presumable + -ly

Explanation

Presumably you are reading these word blurbs because you're interested in learning some useful words. You can add presumably to any statement that you think is true — it indicates a logical conclusion for which you don't have definite proof. When you add presumably to whatever you're saying, you're giving notice that you think what you're saying is true but telling your listener not to ask for the evidence. You might watch beer commercials and say to yourself, "Presumably advertisers think people will find this commercial amusing and want to run out and buy tubs of this beer." The adverb presumably is related to the nouns presumption and assumption, which are also notions you accept without proof.

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Vocabulary lists containing presumably

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Presumably a bummer for Wagler, he and Leonard might not be teammates in L.A.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 30, 2026

Presumably, a lot of these numbers overlap, as the general profile of a worker who contributed the $23,500 maximum, was a worker over 50 who earned more than $150,000.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 16, 2026

Presumably, he would line up alongside Manchester City defender Marc Guehi - although Ezri Konsa's inclusion from the start on Wednesday points to an alternative option.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Presumably whenever a stockpicker—whether investor or analyst—chooses the next big idea, that choice isn’t made cavalierly.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

Presumably she was saying there was nothing to forgive.

From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke

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