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The Difference Between Assume and Presume
Assume and presume both mean "to take something for granted" or "to take something as true," but the words differ in the degree of confidence the person assuming or presuming has. Presume is used when someone is making an informed guess based on reasonable evidence. Assume is used when the guess is based on little or no evidence.
Presume functions a little differently in the legal catchphrase "presumed innocent until proven guilty." That sense of presume is separately defined as "to suppose to be true without proof." It is based on the fact that legal systems grant a defendant the presumption of innocence, thereby placing the burden of proof on the prosecution.
Synonyms
Examples of presume in a Sentence
Eduardo Cuevas, USA TODAY, 13 July 2024
Every person charged or accused of a crime in this country is presumed innocent.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN, 12 July 2024
Steel and Adams claim Glanville misled Copeland, improperly dispensed legal advice, and made biased statements that presumed Williams could draw on insider knowledge of other criminal endeavors during cross-examination.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 9 July 2024
Federal election interference case The Supreme Court determined that presidents are presumed to be protected by immunity for any official acts, but the court did not clearly apply the ruling to Trump's alleged criminal conduct, leaving that decision to the trial judge overseeing the case.
—Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 1 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for presume 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'presume.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Presume.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presume. Accessed 21 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
presume
verb
Legal Definition
presume
transitive verb
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