rumor

1 of 2

noun

ru·​mor ˈrü-mər 

1

: talk or opinion widely disseminated with no discernible source

2

: a statement or report current without known authority for its truth

3

archaic : talk or report of a notable person or event

4

: a soft low indistinct sound : murmur

rumor

2 of 2

verb

rumored; rumoring

transitive verb

: to tell or spread by rumor

Synonyms

Noun

• buzz
• dish
• gossip
• hearsay
• noise
• report
• scuttlebutt
• talk
• tattle
• word

Verb

• bruit (about)
• circulate
• noise (about or abroad)
• whisper

Examples of rumor in a Sentence

Noun

There are rumors that they are making a new film.

She accused him of starting rumors about her.

Ever since his sudden resignation, rumors have been flying.

I heard a rumor that they broke up.

“Did you hear that they broke up?” “That's just a rumor.”

The rumor turned out to be false.

You can't fire him solely based on rumor.

Rumor has it that they broke up.

Verb

for years people have been rumoring the CEO's imminent retirement

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While rumors continue to circulate that Microsoft will finally dip its tech toes into handheld gaming next year, 2024 is still filled with enough Xbox sales on gaming peripherals to get any gamer going to the checkout. —Carlos Mejia, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024

What’s more, the proliferation of artificial intelligence tools has raised concerns that fake images, video or audio could be used in an effort to lend legitimacy to election rumors and false claims. —Clare Duffy, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024

Verb

These cameras are also rumored to be positioned more centrally within the Dynamic Island, rather than its left corner. —Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 11 Nov. 2024

The film is also rumored to have been snapped up by a major streamer. —Gavin J Blair, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English rumour, from Anglo-French, from Latin rumor clamor, gossip; akin to Old English rēon to lament, Sanskrit rauti he roars

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1548, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing rumor

• the rumor mill
• word/rumor has it

Kids Definition

rumor

1 of 2 noun

ru·​mor ˈrü-mər 

1

: a widely held opinion having no known source : hearsay

2

: a statement or story that is in circulation but has not been proved to be true

rumor

2 of 2 verb

rumored; rumoring

ˈrüm-(ə-)riŋ

: to tell by rumor : spread a rumor