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
Synonyms
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
CBS News, 25 Apr. 2024
That comes from the second act of Much Ado About Nothing, where two characters are spreading the rumor that Beatrice is desperately in love with Benedick, who just so happens to be eavesdropping on the conversation.
—Melissa Locker, TIME, 23 Apr. 2024
In recent months, the production has been — as Jules Winnfield might put it — beset on all sides by the tyrannies of casting rumors.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Apr. 2024
Brendan Morrow Kim Kardashian is clearing up some rumors.
—USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
This isn't the first time Kardashian has been asked about online rumors.
—Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024
In a rapid-fire segment, Kardashian, 43, responded to a series of what sounded like weird internet rumors about herself, most of which turned out to be true.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2024
There are also rumors circulating of some new changes to the Apple Pencil.
—Oscar Gonzalez / Gizmodo, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024
In the clip, Carpenter and Keoghan, who first sparked dating rumors in late 2023, stood right in front of the couple, watching on as the rapper performed.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
Fadi Chehadé, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024
Apple is also rumored to be working on a code completion tool similar to GitHub’s Copilot.
—Emilia David, The Verge, 24 Apr. 2024
Keanu Reeves is also rumored to be the voice of Shadow, an antagonist to Sonic.
—Kristina Behr, Parents, 23 Apr. 2024
It is also rumored that Taylor Swift will join the cast as Dazzler, a superheroine who can convert sound vibrations into light and energy beams.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 23 Apr. 2024
The Vultures 2 sequel is rumored to be released in May.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 18 Apr. 2024
The Globe and Mail reported that Reena was also rumored to be involved with one of the girls' boyfriends.
—Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024
Repaired, he was soon returned to his post, only to disappear again, rumored to have been in the basement across the street in the Otis Art Institute, where he was eventually melted down.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Putin’s own religious feelings are hard to discern, though he is rumored to have been brought into the Orthodox faith in the ’90s by a priest named Tikhon Shevkunov, who ran a monastery not far from the FSB’s Moscow headquarters.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
Noun
On Wednesday evening, a Columbia spokesperson said rumors that the university had threatened to bring in the National Guard were unfounded.
—CBS News, 25 Apr. 2024
That comes from the second act of Much Ado About Nothing, where two characters are spreading the rumor that Beatrice is desperately in love with Benedick, who just so happens to be eavesdropping on the conversation.
—Melissa Locker, TIME, 23 Apr. 2024
In recent months, the production has been — as Jules Winnfield might put it — beset on all sides by the tyrannies of casting rumors.
—Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Apr. 2024
Brendan Morrow Kim Kardashian is clearing up some rumors.
—USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
This isn't the first time Kardashian has been asked about online rumors.
—Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 23 Apr. 2024
In a rapid-fire segment, Kardashian, 43, responded to a series of what sounded like weird internet rumors about herself, most of which turned out to be true.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 23 Apr. 2024
There are also rumors circulating of some new changes to the Apple Pencil.
—Oscar Gonzalez / Gizmodo, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024
In the clip, Carpenter and Keoghan, who first sparked dating rumors in late 2023, stood right in front of the couple, watching on as the rapper performed.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
Verb
It is rumored that an internal report on the risks of AGI may be what ignited the recent board drama at OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT.
—Fadi Chehadé, Fortune, 26 Apr. 2024
Apple is also rumored to be working on a code completion tool similar to GitHub’s Copilot.
—Emilia David, The Verge, 24 Apr. 2024
Keanu Reeves is also rumored to be the voice of Shadow, an antagonist to Sonic.
—Kristina Behr, Parents, 23 Apr. 2024
It is also rumored that Taylor Swift will join the cast as Dazzler, a superheroine who can convert sound vibrations into light and energy beams.
—Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 23 Apr. 2024
The Vultures 2 sequel is rumored to be released in May.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 18 Apr. 2024
The Globe and Mail reported that Reena was also rumored to be involved with one of the girls' boyfriends.
—Jessica Sager, Peoplemag, 17 Apr. 2024
Repaired, he was soon returned to his post, only to disappear again, rumored to have been in the basement across the street in the Otis Art Institute, where he was eventually melted down.
—Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2024
Putin’s own religious feelings are hard to discern, though he is rumored to have been brought into the Orthodox faith in the ’90s by a priest named Tikhon Shevkunov, who ran a monastery not far from the FSB’s Moscow headquarters.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rumor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rumor
Cite this Entry
“Rumor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rumor. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
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