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
His coming into the country at all is a most insolent thing, indeed, and I wonder how he could presume to do it.
Presuming, however, that this studied avoidance spoke rather a momentary embarrassment than any dislike of the proposal, and seeing in her husband, who was fond of society, a perfect willingness to accept it, she ventured to engage for her attendance, and the day after the next was fixed on.
“Presuming that it is an appointment,” continued the Inspector, “it is of course a conceivable theory that this William Kirwan—though he had the reputation of being an honest man, may have been in league with the thief.
This, I understand is your son’s room”—he pushed open the door—“and that, I presume, is the dressing-room in which he sat smoking when the alarm was given.
Learn presume in real texts
With a free account, hover any word in the library for its meaning, hear it read aloud, save words for review timed to your memory, and see how much of each book you already know.