presume

/prɪˈzum/

/prəˈzum/

Other forms: presumed; presuming; presumes

If you presume something, it means you act as though it's true before all the evidence is in. If you are presumed to be the fastest runner, don't get too cocky — that word implies that you haven't actually raced yet.

To presume is to take something for granted. The famous quote “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” comes from the explorer Henry Morton Stanley, who ran into the explorer David Livingstone in the wilds of Africa in 1871. It’s funny because these were the only two white men known to be in that part of Africa at the time.

Definitions of presume

1. verb

   take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
   synonyms: assume, take for granted

   types:

   presuppose, suppose

   take for granted or as a given; suppose beforehand

   beg the question

   assume that the argument one is trying to prove is true, without arguing for it

   posit, postulate

   take as a given; assume as a postulate or axiom

   premise, premiss

   take something as preexisting and given

   type of:

   anticipate, expect

   regard something as probable or likely
2. verb

   constitute reasonable evidence for
   “A restaurant bill presumes the consumption of food”

   type of:

   bear witness, evidence, prove, show, testify

   provide evidence for
3. verb

   take liberties or act with too much confidence
   type of:

   act, behave, do

   behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself
4. verb

   take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission
   synonyms: dare, make bold

   type of:

   act, move

   perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)