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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

presume

/pɹɪˈz(j)um/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:03
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What does presume mean?

verb

  1. To be so presumptuous as (to do something) without proper authority or permission [with to (+ infinitive)].
  2. To assume or suggest to be true (without proof); to take for granted, to suppose.
  3. To take as a premise; to assume for the sake of argument.
More meanings (2)

verb

  1. To impose (on) for one's advantage; to be presumptuous; to take advantage (of); to take liberties (with) [with on or upon].
  2. (archaic) To perform, do (something) without authority; to lay claim to without permission.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/pɹɪˈz(j)um/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Other dictionary pronunciations

/pɹiˈz(j)um//pɹəˈz(j)um/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

“I presume that should you accidentally wound an enemy you would take him home and nurse him back to health,” she laughed.
Edgar Rice BurroughsA princess of MarsProject Gutenberg ebook #62
"Not one of them will ever dare to presume on your position to take any liberties with us. I'll see to that."
VariousThe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, 1995, Memorial IssueProject Gutenberg ebook #206
More book examples (3)
“It would be robbing you of the credit of the case if I was to presume to help you,” remarked my friend.
Arthur Conan DoyleA Study in ScarletProject Gutenberg ebook #244
Or who would with any patience hear his friends, if they should presume to defend his government as not arbitrary and tyrannical?
PlutarchPlutarch: Lives of the noble Grecians and RomansProject Gutenberg ebook #674
Even the relief given to a severe headache by burning the skin with strong lotion, depends, I presume, on the same principle.
Charles DarwinThe Expression of the Emotions in Man and AnimalsProject Gutenberg ebook #1227