presume

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /prɪˈzjuːm/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /priˈz(j)um/ or /prəˈz(j)um/
• (AU) IPA ^(key): /prɪˈzjuːm/ or /prɪˈʒuːm/
• (NZ) IPA ^(key): /prɘˈzjʉːm/ or /prɘˈʒʉːm/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (UK)

  (file)

Verb

Plain form presume

Third-person singular presumes

Past tense presumed

Past participle presumed

Present participle presuming

1. (transitive) If you presume something, you believe that it is true without evidence.

   The boy has been missing for a week, and is presumed dead.

2. (intransitive) If you presume to do something, you do it though it is rude or wrong.

   I wouldn't presume to go to the party without an invitation.

3. (transitive) If $x$ presumes $y$, then $x$ requires $y$ and builds on it.

   This books presumes a basic understanding of English grammar.

Synonyms

• think
• believe
• guess
• imagine
• assume
• suppose

Related words

• presumably
• presumption
• presumptive