To suppose that something is true without having complete proof, often because it seems likely. It can also mean to behave too confidently or without proper permission.
From Latin *praesumere* meaning 'to take beforehand', from *prae-* 'before' and *sumere* 'to take'. The idea is that your mind 'takes' something as true before the evidence fully arrives.
To presume is mental fast-forwarding: your brain grabs a conclusion before the facts are all in. That’s efficient but risky, which is why 'presumptuous' describes someone who steps too far, too soon. The word quietly warns that confidence can outrun reality.
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