presume

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /pɹɪˈz(j)um/ UK /pɹɪˈzjuːm/ See IPA manual

Freq #6526

Meanings

1

verb
To suppose something is true without proof; to take for granted.

I presume you've already met everyone in the office.
2

verb
To be bold enough to do something without proper permission or right.

I wouldn't presume to tell you how to run your business.
3

verb
To take unfair advantage of someone's kindness or trust.

I don't want to presume on the generosity of a stranger.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to suppose something is... assume supposetake for granted

Word family

Forms presum'dpresumedpresumespresuming

Derived forms presumabilitypresumablepresumably

Related forms presumption presumptive presumptuous

Simplified etymology

Presume entered English in the late Middle English period from a Latin verb based on sumere, “take,” with a prefix meaning “before.” The resulting idea, “take beforehand,” developed into “take for granted.”

Etymology

From Middle English presumen, from Anglo-Norman presumer and its source, Latin praesūmere (“to take beforehand, anticipate”), from prae- + sūmere (“to take”).

*h₁em- Proto-Indo-European presumen Middle English presumer xno praesūmere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# presume

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /pɹɪˈz(j)um/
**IPA (UK):** /pɹɪˈzjuːm/
**Frequency rank:** 6526

## Meanings
1. To suppose something is true without proof; to take for granted.
2. To be bold enough to do something without proper permission or right.
3. To take unfair advantage of someone's kindness or trust.

## Examples
- I presume you've already met everyone in the office.
- I wouldn't presume to tell you how to run your business.
- I don't want to presume on the generosity of a stranger.

## Derived Forms
- presumability
- presumable
- presumably

## Related Forms
- presumption
- presumptive
- presumptuous

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *h₁em-
- Root: presumen
- Root: presumer
- Root: praesūmere

## Etymology
From Middle English presumen, from Anglo-Norman presumer and its source, Latin praesūmere (“to take beforehand, anticipate”), from prae- + sūmere (“to take”).

## AI Etymology
Presume comes from Middle English presumen, from Anglo-Norman presumer and its source, Latin praesūmere (“to take beforehand, anticipate”), from prae- + sūmere (“to take”). The historical chain includes *h₁em- (Proto-Indo-European), presumen (Middle English), presumer (Anglo-Norman), and praesūmere (Latin). The surrounding word family includes derived forms such as presumability, presumable, and presumably and related forms such as presumption, presumptive, and presumptuous. In present use it covers to suppose something is true without proof; to take for granted, to be bold enough to do something without proper permission or right, and to take unfair advantage of someone's kindness or trust.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

markdown