Meaning & use
supposed to
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
Expected or required to do something because of a rule, plan or arrangement.
Grammar: Followed by a base verb: you are supposed to wear a helmet.
Patterns
- be supposed to do something
- not be supposed to do something
Visitors are supposed to sign in at the front desk.
I was supposed to call my sister last night, but I forgot.
You aren't supposed to park here after six.
phrasefixed phrase
Believed or said by many people to be true, though not proven.
Grammar: Often with be and a verb: the film is supposed to be funny.
Patterns
- be supposed to be something
- be supposed to have done something
This lake is supposed to be the deepest in the country.
The old house is supposed to be haunted.
The new restaurant is supposed to be excellent, but I haven't tried it.
phrasefixed phrase
Intended to have a certain purpose or effect, whether or not it works.
Grammar: Often shows complaint: this is supposed to help, but it doesn't.
Patterns
- be supposed to help
- be supposed to work
This button is supposed to turn off the alarm.
The sauce is supposed to be spicy, but it tastes plain.
What is that tool supposed to do?
Common combinations
- supposed to be
- Dinner is supposed to be ready by seven.
- not supposed to
- You're not supposed to feed the animals.
- supposed to happen
- What was supposed to happen at the meeting?
- supposed to mean
- What is that sign supposed to mean?
- was supposed to
- She was supposed to arrive an hour ago.
Synonyms and how they differ
- meant to
- Meant to is slightly less formal and stresses intention, while supposed to stresses expectation from a rule or belief.
- expected to
- Expected to is neutral about where the demand comes from, whereas supposed to often hints that things did not go as expected.
- required to
- Required to is stronger and suggests a firm rule, but supposed to can describe milder expectations too.
- allegedly
- Allegedly is an adverb used for claims not yet proved, and it fits the believed-true sense but not the sense of duty.
Word family
- suppose verb
- to think something is probably true
- supposed adjective
- believed to be true, often wrongly
- supposedly adverb
- according to what people say
- supposition noun
- an idea accepted without proof
Commonly confused: supposed to or suppose to? supposed to or used to?
supposed to vs suppose to
This is a spelling mistake, since the d is required in writing: supposed to. The d is soft in speech but must still be written.
supposed to vs used to
Used to describes past habits or being accustomed to something, while supposed to describes expectation or belief.
Practice
The train ___ arrive at nine, but it is already ten past.
Choose one answer.
Is supposed to shows what was expected by the timetable. Used to would describe a past habit and does not fit this single event.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “supposed to”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.