presume

verb

pre·​sume pri-ˈzüm How to pronounce presume (audio)
presumed; presuming

transitive verb

1
: to undertake without leave or clear justification : dare
2
: to expect or assume especially with confidence
3
: to suppose to be true without proof
presumed innocent until proved guilty
4
: to take for granted : imply

intransitive verb

1
: to act or proceed presumptuously or on a presumption
2
: to go beyond what is right or proper
presumer noun

Did you know?

The Difference Between Assume and Presume

Assume and presume both mean "to take something for granted" or "to take something as true," but the words differ in the degree of confidence the person assuming or presuming has. Presume is used when someone is making an informed guess based on reasonable evidence. Assume is used when the guess is based on little or no evidence.

Presume functions a little differently in the legal catchphrase "presumed innocent until proven guilty." That sense of presume is separately defined as "to suppose to be true without proof." It is based on the fact that legal systems grant a defendant the presumption of innocence, thereby placing the burden of proof on the prosecution.

Examples of presume in a Sentence

“Is she still at work?” “I presume so, since she's not home.” The court must presume innocence until there is proof of guilt.
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.
While the prosecution has the burden to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, the defendant has the right to be presumed innocent and have their day in court. Jordan Wright, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2025 To presume as some do that automation is the enemy of employees is the equivalent of the misguided view that extra humans flooding into a company, region, or country do so at the expense of those already there. John Tamny, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025 Israel proposed half the number of hostages presumed alive to be released within 1 week As part of the new 45-day ceasefire proposal offered by Israel, Hamas would release 10 living hostages, which is about half the number of hostages presumed alive, according to the Egyptian officials. Aya Batrawy, NPR, 15 Apr. 2025 The Pretrial Fairness Act, which took effect in September 2023 and ended the use of money bond in Illinois, recognizes the foundational principle that every person is presumed innocent until they are proven guilty. Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for presume

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Late Latin & Anglo-French; Anglo-French presumer, from Late Latin praesumere to dare, from Latin, to anticipate, assume, from prae- + sumere to take — more at consume

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of presume was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Presume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presume. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

presume

verb
pre·​sume pri-ˈzüm How to pronounce presume (audio)
presumed; presuming
1
: to undertake without permission or good reason : dare
presume to question the authority of a superior
2
: to expect or assume with confidence : feel sure
I presume you'll fly if you do go
3
: to suppose to be true without proof
presume a person innocent until proved guilty
presumable
-ˈzü-mə-bəl
adjective

Legal Definition

presume

transitive verb
pre·​sume pri-ˈzüm How to pronounce presume (audio)
presumed; presuming
: to suppose to be true without proof or before inquiry : accept as a presumption
must presume the defendant is innocent

More from Merriam-Webster on presume

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