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.
Nowhere to be found, she was presumed dead for six long years – until a chance encounter at a birthday party resulted in an investigation and arrest. Marta Balaga, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024 Officials haven't recovered her body, but she is presumed dead. Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 5 Nov. 2024 In an email to PEOPLE on Thursday, Oct. 31, a spokesperson for the Asheville Fire Department confirmed that four people in Asheville have yet to be accounted for — with one of them presumed dead. David Chiu, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024 Without giving away anything away, the story concerns best friends Margaret and Charity and the dark secrets that come up after Charity goes missing but then returns, well after being presumed dead. William Earl, Variety, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for presumed dead 

Dictionary Entries Near presumed dead

Cite this Entry

“Presumed dead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/presumed%20dead. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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!