presume
/pɹɪˈz(j)um/ verb C1- To be so presumptuous as (to do something) without proper authority or permission [with to (+ infinitive)]. · I don't want to pretend to be an authority on this line of business, so I would never presume to tell you how to run your own company.
- To assume or suggest to be true (without proof); to take for granted, to suppose. · Paw-prints in the snow allow us to presume a visit from next door's cat.· Dr. Livingstone, I presume?
- To take as a premise; to assume for the sake of argument.
- To impose (on) for one's advantage; to be presumptuous; to take advantage (of); to take liberties (with) [with on or upon]. · Thanks, but I can't accept the money; I would not want to presume on the generosity of a stranger'
He/she/it presumes · Past presumed · Past participle presumed · -ing form presuming
Verb forms
- Base form
- presume
- He/she/it
- presumes
- Past
- presumed
- Past participle
- presumed
- -ing form
- presuming
From the library
“The other being, I presume, Professor Moriarty.”
Now, presuming that the source of the crime is as we suspect it to be, there might be two different motives.
Douglas, presuming that they are not the actual murderers, could have been doing from quarter to eleven, when the sound of the shot brought them down, until quarter past eleven, when they rang the bell and summoned the servants.
“It would be robbing you of the credit of the case if I was to presume to help you,” remarked my friend.
Learn presume in real texts
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