presumed dead

idiom

: believed to be dead
After the earthquake several people were missing and presumed dead.

Examples of presumed dead in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After Mickey 17 is prematurely presumed dead, another copy is made. Glenn Garner, Deadline, 28 Feb. 2025 The seems-very-sad-but-ends-up-okay storyline of the Christmas special is that the Japanese hit Mrs. Hall’s son’s ship, and half the crew are presumed dead. Alice Burton, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2025 George — who is presumed dead by the public — then goes to meet with Dreyer, who attempts to blackmail him into keeping his involvement a secret. Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 22 Feb. 2025 The Israeli government has said that more than 30 of the hostages in Gaza are presumed dead, their remains still held by Palestinian militants. Aaron Boxerman, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for presumed dead

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Presumed dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presumed%20dead. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!