verb · 9 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/pɹɪˈzjuːm/
UK:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
US:/pɹɪˈz(j)um/
US:/pɹiˈz(j)um/
US:/pɹəˈz(j)um/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Australian:/pɹɪˈzjʉːm/
Australian:/pɹɪˈʒʉːm/
New-Zealand:/pɹɘˈzjʉːm/
New-Zealand:/pɹɘˈʒʉːm/
rhymes with -uːm
CMU ARPABET:P R IH0 Z UW1 M
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
verb
Meaning 1
To be so presumptuous as (to do something) without proper authority or permission [with to (+ infinitive)].
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
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.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
verb
Meaning 2
To perform, do (something) without authority; to lay claim to without permission.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, transitive
Examples
Don't make the decision yourself and presume too much.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To assume or suggest to be true (without proof); to take for granted, to suppose.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
Paw-prints in the snow allow us to presume a visit from next door's cat.
Dr. Livingstone, I presume?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To take as a premise; to assume for the sake of argument.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
To impose (on) for one's advantage; to be presumptuous; to take advantage (of); to take liberties (with) [with on or upon].
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
Examples
Thanks, but I can't accept the money; I would not want to presume on the generosity of a stranger'
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
verb
Meaning 6
take liberties or act with too much confidence
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: act, behave, do
7
verb
Meaning 7
take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
I assume his train was late
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: assume, take for granted
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: expect, anticipate
Narrower terms: presuppose, suppose
8
verb
Meaning 8
constitute reasonable evidence for
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
A restaurant bill presumes the consumption of food
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: testify, bear witness, prove, evidence, show
9
verb
Meaning 9
take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
How dare you call my lawyer?
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: make bold, dare
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: act, move
History
Etymology
From Middle English presumen, from Anglo-Norman presumer and its source, Latin praesūmere (“to take beforehand, anticipate”), from prae- + sūmere (“to take”).
Across languages
Translations
37 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Basque:
uste izan
— to assume to be true, suppose
Bulgarian:
предполагам
(predpolagam)
— to assume to be true, suppose
Catalan:
presumir
— to assume to be true, suppose
Chinese Mandarin:
假設 /假设
(jiǎshè)
— to assume to be true, suppose
Chinese Mandarin:
假定
(jiǎdìng)
— to assume to be true, suppose
Chinese Mandarin:
推測 /推测
(tuīcè)
— to assume to be true, suppose
Dutch:
veronderstellen
— to assume to be true, suppose
Esperanto:
supozi
— to assume to be true, suppose
Finnish:
otaksua
— to assume to be true, suppose
French:
présumer
— to assume to be true, suppose
French:
supposer
— to assume to be true, suppose
German:
annehmen
— to assume to be true, suppose
German:
mutmaßen
— to assume to be true, suppose
German:
vermuten
— to assume to be true, suppose
Greek:
υποθέτω
(ypothéto)
— to assume to be true, suppose
Hungarian:
feltételez
— to assume to be true, suppose
Italian:
presumere
— to assume to be true, suppose
Japanese:
推定する
(suitei suru)
— to assume to be true, suppose
Japanese:
推測する
(suisoku suru)
— to assume to be true, suppose
Korean:
가정(假定)하다
(gajeonghada)
— to assume to be true, suppose
Latin:
praesūmō
— to assume to be true, suppose
Māori:
whakahira
— to assume to be true, suppose
Persian:
فرض کردن
(farz kardan)
— to assume to be true, suppose
Polish:
przypuszczać
— to assume to be true, suppose
Portuguese:
presumir
— to assume to be true, suppose
Portuguese:
pressupor
— to assume to be true, suppose
Romanian:
presupune
— to assume to be true, suppose
Russian:
предполага́ть
(predpolagátʹ)
— to assume to be true, suppose
Russian:
предположи́ть
(predpoložítʹ)
— to assume to be true, suppose
Slovene:
domnevati
— to assume to be true, suppose
Swahili:
waza
— to assume to be true, suppose
Swahili:
dhania
— to assume to be true, suppose
Swahili:
kisia
— to assume to be true, suppose
Swedish:
förmoda
— to assume to be true, suppose
Swedish:
förutsätta
— to assume to be true, suppose
Ukrainian:
припускати
(prypuskaty)
— to assume to be true, suppose
Urdu:
فرض کرنا
(farẓ karnā)
— to assume to be true, suppose
