be presumed to

USAGE SUMMARY

"be presumed to" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when indicating an assumption or belief about someone or something based on available evidence. Example: "He is presumed to have left the country." Alternative expressions include "be assumed to" and "be considered to."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The area was 99percentnt white, so the findings may be presumed to understate the problem of poverty.

The New Yorker

Under New York's new law, young children arrested for prostitution will be presumed to be victims of sexual exploitation.

The New York Times

For these the measured intervals would be so short that clock errors may be presumed to be small.

Encyclopedia Britannica

By now, such blatant discrimination should be presumed to be unconstitutional, and the Justice Department should finally say so.

The New York Times

Lenders will be presumed to have complied with the new rule if they issue what the bureau calls "qualified mortgages".

The New York Times

Since it is not a sequel, its box-office may be presumed to be relatively less front-loaded, so it should enjoy a decent sustain.

The Guardian - Film

Most PBS viewers can probably be presumed to favor freedom of speech, and this is hardly a balanced picture of the issue.

The New York Times - Arts

In 1955, the California Supreme Court reversed the lower court, holding that Communists would be presumed to be dedicated to the practice of sabotage.

The New York Times

Arguably the risk here is that younger first-time writers, who might be presumed to have more room – and time – for improvement are privileged over the older ones.

The Guardian - Books

The unpalatable truth is that persons of minority groups who attain positions of power will be presumed to be self-serving or susceptible to bias.

The Guardian - Opinion

For instance, any derivative accepted by a clearinghouse for settlement would be presumed to be a uniform derivative, not a customized one.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer this phrase in legal, scientific or formal reporting contexts to maintain a high level of objectivity and precision.

Common error

Do not use "be presumed to" for purely subjective or baseless guesses. A 'presumption' in formal English usually implies a baseline that is accepted until proven otherwise (like being 'presumed innocent'). For casual thoughts, use "be thought to" instead.

Linguistic Context

This is a passive verb phrase followed by a to-infinitive. It functions as a complex predicate that shifts the burden of proof or establishes a default state. As noted in the Ludwig AI analysis, it is used to indicate an assumption based on available evidence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be presumed to" is an essential construction for any writer looking to express high-probability inferences with a professional tone. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across the most prestigious English publications. Whether you are discussing legal rights, scientific hypotheses or social trends, this phrase provides a way to establish a baseline truth while remaining open to further evidence. It is significantly more formal than "be thought to" and carries more procedural weight than "be assumed to". Use it when you want your writing to sound authoritative, precise and logically grounded.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be assumed to

Suggests a general assumption often without the legal or procedural weight of a presumption.

be deemed to

Carries a more official or authoritative weight, often implying a formal judgment or classification.

be considered to

A more neutral and widely applicable alternative for general observations.

be thought to

Less formal and focuses more on the belief held by a group of people.

be believed to

Shifts the focus slightly toward a subjective conviction or widespread opinion.

be taken to

Often used when one thing is interpreted or understood as another.

be understood to

Implies a shared interpretation or an established agreement on a fact.

be expected to

Focuses on a future prediction or a standard of behavior.

be supposed to

Can imply an obligation or an intended state that might not match reality.

be seen as

Frames the assumption as a matter of perspective or public perception.

FAQs

How do I use "be presumed to" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a status or action that is taken for granted based on available logic, for example: "The missing documents are "be presumed to" have been destroyed during the fire."

What is the difference between "be presumed to" and "be assumed to"?

While both indicate an inference, "be presumed to" often implies a stronger basis in evidence or legal protocol, whereas "be assumed to" is more general and can be based on less formal reasoning.

Can I say "be deemed to" instead?

Yes, but "be deemed to" implies a more final or official decision, while "be presumed to" suggests a starting point that could potentially be rebutted with new evidence.

Is "be presumed to" too formal for emails?

It is quite formal. In everyday business emails, you might prefer "be thought to" or simply "likely" to sound more natural.