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presumable

presumable

1 4.8
Likely to be true based on the facts
  • adjective
  • /prɪˈzuməbl/
translation icon : presumible
  • An inquiry might arise, Knox cautioned, whether the United States had a "clear right" to take such action consistent with "the principles of justice and the laws of nature." Still, he continued, "it is presumable that a nation solicitous of establishing its character on the broad basis of justice would not only hesitate at, but reject every proposition to benefit itself by the injury of any neighboring community, however contemptible and weak it might be, either with respect to its manners or power."

Examples

  • It's not something you hear of as often as sightings of large presumable adult creatures, but reports of juveniles do come in.

  • Part of the anxiety that often marks writing on painting no doubt stems from its association with the art market and presumable willingness to serve too readily as a commodity exchanged at art fairs.

    Academic text (2012)
  • You're there to provide a service; yes, some people are douchebags, but to write a presumable few thousand-word list on why waiting is so tough?

    Blog text (9)
  • And here's the next thing that the casinos do, they give what are known as intermittent non presumable rewards.

  • In and of themselves, these are nice little snapshots of some boats in a harbor, a city center, some people standing at the base of some presumable tourist attraction, and some mountains.

    Blog text (28)
  • According to this conjecture, it was the presumable date of the drawing, as suggested by the paper watermark, that led to the attribution, not the other way around.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Marcher felt him on the spot as one of the deeply stricken—a perception so sharp that nothing else in the picture lived for it, neither his dress, his age, nor his presumable character and class; nothing lived but the deep ravage of the features that he showed.

    Academic text (2003)
  • He doesn't seem boastful or otherwise pretentious or affected: a regular fellow, self-ironic but serious; likable, she decides, and okay-looking for his presumable age, but who cares about that?

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Based on the weather forecast, it is presumable that the event will be canceled due to rain.

  • Given her experience and knowledge, it is presumable that she will receive the job offer.

Synonyms

presumptive
vspresumable
31 7.3

Likely to be true because of evidence, not certain

is about being capable of reasonable assumption or inference from evidence
putative
vspresumable
  • Formal
11 7.9

Thought by many to be true but not proved

is inferred from available evidence and reason rather than general reputation
inferable
vspresumable
6.1

You can understand it from facts or clues

is assumed from available evidence rather than strictly deduced
surmisable
vspresumable
8.8

Can be guessed from a small amount of evidence

is based on stronger, reasonable evidence rather than mere guesswork
supposable
vspresumable
7.7

Possible to imagine as true with little proof

is grounded in reasonable inference from real evidence rather than imagination

Antonyms

53 4.9

Not likely to happen or be true

How Likely

certain
946 1.0
probable
200 3.4
presumable
1 4.8
plausible
129 7.2
possible
1.0

Surface Forms

presumable positive

Morphology

presumable = presume (transparent) = presume + able

The adjective is a regular -able derivation from the verb 'presume' and means 'capable of being presumed,' which is directly inferable.

Etymology

Presumable comes from the verb presume, where the prefix pre- means 'before' and the rest is like the familiar word assume, which means 'to take' or 'accept'. So to presume is to 'take' something 'before' you have full proof, and presumable means 'likely' or 'can be assumed'.