When you think about the word presume vs. assume, you may think that these are two synonyms that mean the same thing. But while these words do have a similar meaning, there is a subtle difference. There are some subtle but important differences between these commonly confused words. Read on to learn more about the different meanings of presume and assume so you can use each word in the correct situations.
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What Is Presume?
To presume is to make an educated guess about something based on prior knowledge or the context of a situation. So, what is the origin of presume?
This word has Latin roots, stemming from a combination of the Latin words “prae,” meaning “before,” and “sumere,” meaning “take.”
Nobody can predict the future with 100% accuracy, but when you presume something, you are making a good guess about what an outcome may be based on your mental calculation of its likelihood.
So, when you presume, you are often fairly confident in your belief.
For example, if all your friends start acting suspicious around your birthday, you might presume that they are secretly planning a surprise party for you.
Example Sentences
- Since the sky was getting dark, she presumed that it was about to rain.
- Don’t presume that he is a bad kid just because he failed one class.
- Seeing as you never show up to school, I presume you don’t care about your grade.
- I presume that he’s not having a good day based on the sour look on his face.
- Is it safe to presume that you’ll be staying with us over the holidays?
Synonyms of Presume
Remember that presuming is making an educated guess based on facts or reasonable expectations. If you want to convey this same meaning without using the word “presume,” give these synonyms a try:
- Deduce
- Judge
- Postulate
What Is Assume?
To assume is to come to a conclusion without any proof to back it up. So, when you assume, you believe something to be true, even if you do not have a reasonable justification for that belief.
Like presume, this word also has Latin roots. It comes from the Latin word “assumere,” which is a combination of “ad,” or “toward,” and “sumere,” which once again means “to take.”
Some describe the act of assuming as taking something for granted without truly understanding the situation.
For instance, if you treat a friend poorly because you just figure that they will always be in your life, you may end up regretting your assumption if they get angry and end your friendship.
Alternatively, if your mom told you and your siblings to wash the dishes before she got home and you didn’t do the chore because you figured that your brother or sister would do it for you, that would be a bad assumption.
Example Sentences
- I assumed that she was going to pay the bill, but she assumed I would do it!
- John assumed that someone had already taken the dog for a walk.
- How dare you just assume that I would be okay with you telling my secret?
- Did you ask her what kind of food she wanted to eat, or did you just assume?
- I’m assuming that he’ll be fine with whichever hotel you choose, but you might want to ask him just to be sure.
Synonyms of Assume
As “assume” means to make a guess about something without much to back it up, there are many other words and phrases you can use to convey the same meaning as “assume.” Here are a few examples:
- Suppose
- Conjecture
- Guess
- Speculate
- Surmise
What’s the Difference?
Since you now know that the words presume and assume share a common origin (they derived from “sumere,” which is a Latin verb), what’s their difference?
Assumptions are based on nothing, while presumptions are at least informed by some amount of knowledge or a reasonable expectation. Therefore, the word “presume” usually indicates a higher level of confidence than “assume” does.
You may have heard the legal catchphrase “presumed innocent” in court or prosecution. This is the correct form of the phrase—using the word “presumed” and not “assumed.” This term (presumed innocent) means that someone is considered innocent until proven guilty. In short, there is a presumption of innocence.
It’s also important to note that presume and assume are the root words of two other common words you’ve probably heard before—presumption and assumption. These words are simply the noun form of the verbs presume and assume. If you presume, you’ve made a presumption. If you assume, you’ve made an assumption.
Which One to Use?
When deciding between presume vs. assume, the right word to use will depend on your unique situation.
If you are trying to describe an educated guess, have reasonable evidence, or have a degree of confidence, you should go with the word “presume.” However, if you are trying to say that someone made a decision without any evidence to back it up, you will be better off using the word “assume.”
Final Thoughts
Although the etymologies of these words are identical, there is a slight difference you need to be aware of. If you want to avoid choosing the wrong word, remember that presumptions are confident theories or an informed guess based on evidence at least have a level of certainty. On the other hand, assumptions are just guesses made without any proof. Now that you understand the differences between presume vs. assume, you can use these words confidently in your everyday conversations.
