- characterized by presumption or tending to presume; bold; forward
- an obsolete word for presumptive
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pre•sump•tu•ous /prɪˈzʌmptʃuəs/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- characterized by too much boldness to presume or make unwarranted assumptions;
too bold:presumptuous of her to assume I'd be paying for dinner.
pre•sump•tu•ous
(pri zump′cho̅o̅ əs),USA pronunciation adj.
pre•sump′tu•ous•ly, adv.
pre•sump′tu•ous•ness, n.
- full of, characterized by, or showing presumption or readiness to presume in conduct or thought.
- unwarrantedly or impertinently bold;
forward. - [Obs.]presumptive.
- Late Latin praesūmptuōsus, variant of Latin praesūmptiōsus. See presumption, -ous
- Middle English 1300–50
pre•sump′tu•ous•ness, n.
- 1. 2. impertinent, audacious; fresh; arrogant. See bold.
- 1. 2. modest, unassuming.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
presumptuous /prɪˈzʌmptjʊəs/ adj
'presumptuous' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
assuming
- audacious
- confident
- familiar
- forward
- fresh
- overweening
- uppish
- upstart
- arrogant
- assumptive
- assurance
- assured
- bold
- free
- hardy
- high-handed
- impertinent
- impudent
- jackanapes
- line
- nervy
- obtrusive
- pert
- presuming
- proud
- try
- whippersnapper
- wise
- snip