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Meaning & use

rumored

verb, adjective·EverydayAmerican

Last updated

UK/ˈruːməd/
US/ˈruːmərd/

“rumored” is a form of “rumor”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive

    Past participle of rumor: said by many people without being confirmed as true, usually in the passive.

    Grammar: Almost always passive: it is rumored that the shop is closing.

    Patterns

    • be rumored to do something
    • it is rumored that something

    The singer is rumored to be planning a farewell tour.

    It was rumored that the school would close next year.

    The new phone is rumored to launch in the spring.

  2. adjectivebefore a noun

    Talked about by many people, but not officially confirmed.

    Grammar: Appears before a noun: the rumored merger.

    Patterns

    • the rumored something

    The rumored merger never happened.

    Fans were excited by the rumored sequel.

    Investors reacted to the rumored takeover bid.

Word forms

base formrumor
third person singularrumors
-ing formrumoring

Common combinations

rumored to be
The house is rumored to be haunted.
widely rumored
It is widely rumored that the manager will resign.
rumored merger
Shares rose on the rumored merger.
long rumored
The long rumored reunion was finally announced.
rumored to have
He is rumored to have bought an island.

Synonyms and how they differ

reputed
Reputed suggests a general belief about something's character, while rumored points to unconfirmed news passing between people.
alleged
Alleged is used for formal claims, often about wrongdoing, whereas rumored sounds more casual.
reported
Reported implies a news source said it, while rumored implies hearsay.
supposed
Supposed expresses doubt about a claim, but rumored stresses that it spread by word of mouth.

Opposites

confirmedofficially announced

Word family

rumor noun
a story that passes between people without proof
rumor verb
to spread a story without proof
rumormonger noun
a person who spreads rumors
rumour noun
British spelling of rumor

Commonly confused: rumored or rumoured?

rumored vs rumoured

This is the British spelling of the same word; use rumored in American English.

Practice

The company is ____ to be looking for a new chief executive, but nothing has been announced.

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