Presume vs Likely - What's the difference?
presume | likely |
With infinitive object: to be so presumptuous as (to do something) without proper authority or permission.
To assume to be true (without proof); to take for granted, to suppose.
* 2011 , John Patterson, The Guardian , 5 Feb 2011:
To be presumptuous; with (on), (upon), to take advantage (of), to take liberties (with).
* 1994 , Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom , Abacus 2010, p. 75:
probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring
probable
*{{quote-news, year=2013, date=April 9, author=Andrei Lankov, title=Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff., work=New York Times
, passage=People who talk about an imminent possibility of war seldom pose this question: What would North Korea’s leadership get from unleashing a war that they are likely to lose in weeks, if not days?}}
appropriate, suitable; believable; having a good potential
plausible; Within the realm of credibility
* {{quote-news
, year=2011
, date=December 19
, author=Kerry Brown
, title=Kim Jong-il obituary
, work=The Guardian
promising; Apt to achieve success or yield a desired outcome
attractive; pleasant
Reasonably to be expected; apparently destined.
* {{quote-news
, year=2011
, date=November 3
, author=Chris Bevan
, title=Rubin Kazan 1 - 0 Tottenham
, work=BBC Sport
(obsolete) Similar; like; alike.
(obsolete) Similarly.
Probably.
*, chapter=1
, title= Something or somebody considered likely.
As a verb presume
is to perform, do (something) without authority; to lay claim to without permission.As an adjective likely is
probable; having a greater-than-even chance of occurring.As an adverb likely is
similarly.As a noun likely is
something or somebody considered likely.presume
English
Alternative forms
* (archaic)Verb
(presum)- Don't make the decision yourself and presume too much.
- I wouldn't presume to tell him how to do his job.
- If we presume that human cloning may one day become a mundane, everyday reality, then maybe it's time to start thinking more positively about our soon-to-arrive genetically engineered pseudo-siblings.
- Piliso then vented his anger on us, accusing us of lying to him. He said we had presumed on his hospitality and the good name of the regent.
Quotations
* Paw prints in the snow presume a visit from next door's cat. * Dr. Livingstone, I presume ?Synonyms
* (l)Derived terms
* presumed perpetratorAnagrams
* ----likely
English
Adjective
(en-adj)- Rain is likely later this afternoon.
- They are likely to become angry with him.
citation
- Jones is a likely candidate for management.
- not a very likely excuse.
citation, page= , passage=The DPRK propagated an extraordinary tale of his birth occurring on Mount Baekdu, one of Korea's most revered sites, being accompanied by shooting stars in the sky. It is more likely that he was born in a small village in the USSR, while his father was serving as a Soviet-backed general during the second world war.}}
- a likely topic for investigation.
- found a likely spot under a shady tree for the picnic.
- He is likely to succeed at anything he tries.
citation, page= , passage=In truth, Tottenham never really looked like taking all three points and this defeat means they face a battle to reach the knockout stages -with their next home game against PAOK Salonika on 30 November likely to prove decisive.}}
- (Spenser)
Synonyms
* liableAdverb
(en adverb)Mr. Pratt's Patients, chapter=1 , passage=Thinks I to myself, “Sol, you're run off your course again. This is a rich man's summer ‘cottage’ and if you don't look out there's likely to be some nice, lively dog taking an interest in your underpinning.”}}
