presume

presume — verb

1. to accept that a claim or situation is very likely correct because the available

1.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to accept that a claim or situation is very likely correct because the available information strongly suggests it, even if you cannot be completely certain

Example

Bao presumed his wallet was still in the car, since he had seen it there an hour ago.

presume + that-clause for believing based on evidence

The court presumes the defendant innocent until the trial provides clear proof otherwise.

passive: be presumed + adjective in legal contexts

Common collocations
  • presume + that-clause
  • reasonably presume
  • safely presume
  • generally presumed
  • rightly presume
  • presume from the evidence
  • presume innocent
  • presume dead
Synonyms
  • assume

    more neutral and common; implies taking something as true without strong evidence, often as a starting point for reasoning

  • suppose

    more tentative; suggests a hypothesis or guess with less confidence than presume

  • take for granted

    informal; implies assuming something without checking, sometimes carelessly

Antonyms
  • doubt

    to feel uncertain about whether something is true

  • question

    to express uncertainty or challenge the truth of something

Grammar Patterns

presume + that-clause

presume + object + adjective

presume + object + to-infinitive

be presumed + adjective

be presumed + to-infinitive

Usage Note

Frequently used in legal and formal academic writing. Unlike assume, presume carries a sense of reasonable probability — you presume something when the evidence strongly points that way. The passive construction (be presumed + adjective / to-infinitive) is especially common in legal contexts, where the law presumes a fact until evidence disproves it.

Common Mistakes

I presume you are hungry' (when there is no evidence — just a guess).
I assume you are hungry' (for a guess without strong evidence) or 'I presume you are hungry after not eating all day' (when evidence supports it).
'presume' implies a reasonable basis for the belief, not a casual guess.
The law assumes the defendant innocent until proven guilty.
The law presumes the defendant innocent until proven guilty.
In legal contexts, 'presume' is the correct term for a formal legal principle.

2. to act or carry out an action for which you lack proper authority or permission,

2.verbintransitive
Definition

to act or carry out an action for which you lack proper authority or permission, exceeding the limits of what others view as acceptable

Example

Lakan would never presume to address the ambassador by her first name.

negative pattern: would not presume to + infinitive

A junior staff member should not presume to make decisions that affect the entire department.

negative pattern: should not presume to + infinitive

Common collocations
  • presume to + infinitive
  • would not presume
  • presume too far
  • presume too much
  • presume on/upon someone's kindness
Synonyms
  • dare

    stronger and more direct; implies boldness or audacity, not necessarily without permission

  • take the liberty

    more polite and formal; often used as an apologetic phrase before doing something

  • overstep

    focuses on exceeding proper boundaries rather than lacking permission

Grammar Patterns

presume to + infinitive

would not presume to + infinitive

should not presume to + infinitive

Usage Note

Almost always used in negative constructions (would not presume, should not presume, did not presume) or in rhetorical questions. The to-infinitive always follows directly. The alternative form presume on/upon someone's kindness means to take unfair advantage of someone's generosity.

Common Mistakes

She presumed to ask a question' (positive, neutral framing sounds odd).
She would not presume to ask such a personal question' (negative framing is the natural pattern).
This sense is strongly tied to negative constructions in standard English.
Phrasal verbs

presume on

phrasal verb

To take unfair advantage of someone's kindness or friendship.

Mia felt he was presuming on her generosity by asking for another loan.

Don't presume on our friendship by arriving uninvited to the party.

presume upon

phrasal verb

To take unfair advantage of someone's kindness or friendship.

He presumed upon his brother's patience by staying for two weeks.

Are you presuming upon my goodwill by asking for a discount?

Word family

  • presumption
    nounC1
  • presumptuous
    adjectiveC1
  • presumptuously
    adverbC1
  • presumably
    adverbB2
  • presumptive
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

These three verbs all describe believing something without complete certainty, but they differ in strength and basis. Presume carries the strongest confidence — you presume something when evidence points strongly in that direction, even if proof is not absolute. Assume is more neutral: you take something as true to move forward with reasoning or action, often without worrying about evidence at all. Suppose is the most tentative, used for hypotheses or guesses where the speaker is not fully committed to the idea. For example: a detective might presume the butler is guilty because of strong circumstantial evidence; an economist might assume inflation will stay low in order to build a forecast; and a friend might suppose you could take the train, just thinking of possibilities. In legal contexts, the difference is sharp: courts presume innocence (a formal principle), they do not merely assume or suppose it.

presume ↗assume ↗suppose ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • presume from the evidence that
  • be presumed innocent
  • presume on someone's kindness

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word 'presume' comes from Latin 'praesumere', made from 'prae-' (before) and 'sumere' (to take), so the original meaning was 'to take beforehand' or 'to take in advance'. This developed into the idea of forming an opinion before all the facts are in — what we now call presuming or assuming. The 'daring without permission' sense emerged from the notion of taking a liberty in advance of being granted it.