presume

presume — verb

1. to accept that a claim or situation is very likely correct because the available

1.動詞及物C1
釋義

to accept that a claim or situation is very likely correct because the available information strongly suggests it, even if you cannot be completely certain

例句

Bao presumed his wallet was still in the car, since he had seen it there an hour ago.

presume + that-clause for believing based on evidence

The court presumes the defendant innocent until the trial provides clear proof otherwise.

passive: be presumed + adjective in legal contexts

同義詞
  • assume

    more neutral and common; implies taking something as true without strong evidence, often as a starting point for reasoning

  • suppose

    more tentative; suggests a hypothesis or guess with less confidence than presume

  • take for granted

    informal; implies assuming something without checking, sometimes carelessly

反義詞
  • doubt

    to feel uncertain about whether something is true

  • question

    to express uncertainty or challenge the truth of something

文法句型

presume + that-clause

presume + object + adjective

presume + object + to-infinitive

be presumed + adjective

be presumed + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Frequently used in legal and formal academic writing. Unlike assume, presume carries a sense of reasonable probability — you presume something when the evidence strongly points that way. The passive construction (be presumed + adjective / to-infinitive) is especially common in legal contexts, where the law presumes a fact until evidence disproves it.

常見錯誤

❌I presume you are hungry' (when there is no evidence — just a guess).
✅I assume you are hungry' (for a guess without strong evidence) or 'I presume you are hungry after not eating all day' (when evidence supports it).
💡'presume' implies a reasonable basis for the belief, not a casual guess.
❌The law assumes the defendant innocent until proven guilty.
✅The law presumes the defendant innocent until proven guilty.
💡In legal contexts, 'presume' is the correct term for a formal legal principle.

2. to act or carry out an action for which you lack proper authority or permission,

2.動詞不及物
釋義

to act or carry out an action for which you lack proper authority or permission, exceeding the limits of what others view as acceptable

例句

Lakan would never presume to address the ambassador by her first name.

negative pattern: would not presume to + infinitive

A junior staff member should not presume to make decisions that affect the entire department.

negative pattern: should not presume to + infinitive

同義詞
  • dare

    stronger and more direct; implies boldness or audacity, not necessarily without permission

  • take the liberty

    more polite and formal; often used as an apologetic phrase before doing something

  • overstep

    focuses on exceeding proper boundaries rather than lacking permission

文法句型

presume to + infinitive

would not presume to + infinitive

should not presume to + infinitive

用法筆記

Almost always used in negative constructions (would not presume, should not presume, did not presume) or in rhetorical questions. The to-infinitive always follows directly. The alternative form presume on/upon someone's kindness means to take unfair advantage of someone's generosity.

常見錯誤

❌She presumed to ask a question' (positive, neutral framing sounds odd).
✅She would not presume to ask such a personal question' (negative framing is the natural pattern).
💡This sense is strongly tied to negative constructions in standard English.