# presumably

/pɹəˈzuməbɫi/ (US) · /pɹɪzjˈuːməbli/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adverb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/presumably
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

used to say that you think something is true, even if you are not 100% sure. You use it when you have a good reason to believe something based on what you already know.

For teachers: used to convey that a statement is very likely true based on the available evidence, though not definitively proven.

## Examples

- The store is closed, so presumably they have gone home.
- The flight was delayed for three hours, so presumably the passengers will be eligible for a refund.
- The artifacts were found deep within the cave system, presumably left there by early inhabitants seeking shelter from the harsh glacial climate of the era.

## Pitfalls

- Not "It is presumably that he will win." but "Presumably, he will win." — Presumably is an adverb and cannot function as an adjective following 'it is'; use 'it is probable' or 'presumably' as a sentence modifier.

## Usage notes

- Sentence adverb — typically placed at the beginning of a clause or before the main verb to indicate the speaker's degree of certainty.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.