rumor

1 of 2

noun

ru·​mor ˈrü-mər How to pronounce rumor (audio)
Synonyms of rumornext
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

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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.
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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.
Noun
However, there have not been any rumors indicating that a touch-screen Mac will launch as early as next year, so some skepticism is warranted for the time being. — Ewan Spence, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 The rumors about him were pretty rampant, yet no one was able to get the goods on a story. — Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
Yet the private life of the royal couple was rumored to be a far from felicitous one, with many stories of infidelities trickling out before and after the princess was killed in a car crash in 1982 at the age of fifty-two. — Rob Crossan, JSTOR Daily, 21 Mar. 2025 In 1545, Spanish colonizers greedy for precious metals established a mining town named Potosí in current-day Bolivia, more than 13,000 feet high, at the foot of a mountain that was rumored to be made of silver. — Tim Vernimmen, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rumor

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of rumor was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing rumor

Rhymes for rumor

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Browse Nearby Words

rumor
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Cite this Entry

“Rumor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rumor. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

rumor

1 of 2 noun
ru·​mor ˈrü-mər How to pronounce rumor (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on rumor

Nglish: Translation of rumor for Spanish Speakers

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