Word
presumptuous
Phoneticspre·sump·tu·ous, stress on the second syllable
US/pɹɪˈzəmptʃəwəs/
UK/pɹɪsˈʌmptʃuːəs/
Definition
adj. behaving in a way that shows you think you are more important than you really are. You use this to describe someone who acts without asking permission or showing respect.
adj. characterised by an arrogant or disrespectful assumption of superiority or entitlement. Often describes actions that overstep social boundaries or fail to acknowledge a hierarchy.
Examples
“It was presumptuous of him to sit in the boss's chair.”
“The young assistant's presumptuous behavior during the meeting made the senior partners feel uncomfortable and unrespected.”
“The novel's protagonist is often criticized for his presumptuous belief that he can change the course of history without understanding the complex social structures he is born into.”
Examples
simple
“It was presumptuous of him to sit in the boss's chair.”
contextual
“The young assistant's presumptuous behavior during the meeting made the senior partners feel uncomfortable and unrespected.”
complex
“The novel's protagonist is often criticized for his presumptuous belief that he can change the course of history without understanding the complex social structures he is born into.”
Real-World Examples
“Were Napoli presumptuous to think they could beat Venezia without their standout creative talent, their first-choice centre-forward and one of their most able dribblers?” “However, it would have been presumptuous to use this big aircraft only for a single experiment.” Etymology
From Middle English presumptuous, borrowed from Old French presumptieus, presumpcieus, presumptuos, from Latin praesumptuosus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/presumptuous