First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
presume
verb pre·sume \pri-ˈzüm\
: to think that (something) is true without knowing that it is true
: to accept legally or officially that something is true until it is proved not true
: to do (something) that you do not have the right or permission to do
pre·sumedpre·sum·ing
Full Definition of PRESUME
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
— pre·sumed·ly \-ˈzü-məd-lē, -ˈzümd-lē\ adverb
— pre·sum·er noun
See presume defined for English-language learners
See presume defined for kids
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Origin of PRESUME
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
Related to PRESUME
Rhymes with PRESUME
abloom, assume, backroom, ballroom, barroom, bathroom, bedroom, boardroom, bridegroom, broadloom, chat room, checkroom, classroom, clean room, cloakroom, coatroom, consume, costume, courtroom, darkroom, dayroom, entomb, enwomb, exhume, foredoom, front room, great room, greenroom, guardroom, gun room, headroom, heirloom, homeroom, houseroom, illume, inhume, jibboom, Khartoum, legroom, legume, lunchroom, men's room, mudroom, mushroom, newsroom, perfume, playroom, poolroom, pressroom, push broom, relume, restroom, resume, salesroom, schoolroom, Scotch broom, sea room, showroom, sickroom, simoom, squad room, stateroom, stockroom, storeroom, strong room, subsume, sunroom, taproom, Targum, tearoom, throne room, toolroom, wardroom, washroom, weight room, whisk broom, white room, workroom
PRESUME Defined for Kids
presume
verb pre·sume \pri-ˈzüm\
pre·sumedpre·sum·ing
Definition of PRESUME for Kids
1
: to undertake without permission or good reason : dare <They … did not presume to talk to their masters as if they were their equals. — Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden>
2
: to suppose to be true without proof <A person is presumed innocent until proved guilty.>
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