YOUR VOCABULARY, ONE WORD AT A TIME

presumptuous

Adjective

IPA /prɪˈzʌmptʃuəs/

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Meaning in plain English

Too confident about your right to do something, in a way that shows insufficient respect.

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Pronunciation

presumptuous/prɪˈzʌmptʃuəs/

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Someone is invited to dinner
They bring extra guests unasked
The host was never consulted

It is presumptuous to assume permission to bring extra guests without asking.

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Examples in context

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It was presumptuous of him to invite extra guests without asking.
I hope it is not presumptuous to suggest a change to the agenda.

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It was ________ of him to invite extra guests without asking.

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presumptuous — Too confident about your right to do something, in a way that shows insufficient respect.

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Too confident about your right to do something, in a way that shows insufficient respect.

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Word origin

From Old French presumptueux and Late Latin forms associated with taking something for granted.

Did you know?

The pattern it is presumptuous of someone to do something identifies the person overstepping a boundary.

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