How to Use presumptive in a Sentence

presumptive

adjective
  • By that time, the presumptive host city has already gone through a lengthy vetting process.
    — Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2025
  • Among the would-be buyers, the role of presumptive favorite has changed hands more than once.
    — Jonathan Soble, New York Times, 31 Aug. 2017
  • Don't wait for a claim for an item to be listed as a presumptive condition.
    — Lauren Lantry, ABC News, 23 Nov. 2021
  • According to the plea deal, each faces a presumptive sentence of one year in prison.
    — Kelsey Mo, azcentral, 23 May 2018
  • The presumptive sentence was a 15-year term.
    — Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Her prison term was the presumptive sentence for the conviction.
    — Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 31 Mar. 2025
  • One of my aunts or cousins might make a presumptive comment about everyone going to church.
    — Steven Strom, Ars Technica, 5 Aug. 2017
  • The presumptive sentence on the manslaughter count is four years.
    — Steve Karnowski, Fox News, 7 June 2019
  • The presumptive sentence on the manslaughter count was four years.
    — Steve Karnowski, chicagotribune.com, 7 June 2019
  • As the show’s plot advances, more and more of its concerns come to echo those of its presumptive boomer audience.
    — Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 31 May 2026
  • Germany’s presumptive next chancellor could be weak from the start, for all sorts of reasons.
    — Jim Tankersley, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
  • The presumptive national player of the year is tired of losing, too.
    — Nick Moyle, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Feb. 2018
  • The presumptive sentence for manslaughter in a case like this is five to nine years in prison, Wolfe said.
    — Lisa Demer, Anchorage Daily News, 14 Dec. 2017
  • But what’d be wrong with the presumptive Dem nominee leading some cheers?
    — Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, 2 Apr. 2020
  • And some of the items had a presumptive positive result for the presence of blood, the report said.
    — Richard Tribou, orlandosentinel.com, 29 Oct. 2021
  • The state will start adding presumptive cases to the official tally.
    — Shari Rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, 22 Apr. 2020
  • Trump’s presumptive last act in the White House is shaping up to be as bankrupt as all that came before.
    — Steve Coll, The New Yorker, 15 Nov. 2020
  • Mandel, a former Ohio treasurer, for much of the race had been the presumptive front runner for much of the race.
    — Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 19 Mar. 2022
  • State sentencing guidelines called for a presumptive sentence of 12 years in prison.
    — Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The Trash Pandas begin at the top of the bracket as the presumptive favorite.
    — Paul Gattis | [email protected], al, 20 Mar. 2023
  • At least in the short term, the presumptive approach really does yield higher vaccine uptake.
    — Peter M. Sandman, STAT, 26 Jan. 2026
  • The gap between Lawrence — the presumptive top pick since the 2020 draft ended — and the field is wide.
    — Brad Biggs, chicagotribune.com, 25 Dec. 2020
  • Joe Flacco, who led the Browns to the playoffs two seasons ago, returned to the team as the presumptive starter.
    — Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • But careful review is not the same as presumptive opposition.
    — Bill Lockyer, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026
  • Trump has coasted to the presumptive nomination by railing about how the Democrats stole the last election.
    — Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 24 Apr. 2024
  • He was diagnosed with prostate cancer, another cancer on the presumptive list.
    — Ginger Allen, CBS News, 6 May 2026
  • In Klara and the Sun, Ishiguro leaves us suspended over a rift in the presumptive order of things.
    — Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 2 Mar. 2021
  • The most widespread advice to pediatricians on how to talk with parents about vaccines is to take a presumptive approach.
    — Peter M. Sandman, STAT, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Taylor bats leadoff for the presumptive Best Picture favorite.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
  • His film remains the presumptive favorite among many pundits and industry analysts.
    — Clayton Davis, Variety, 19 Feb. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'presumptive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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