rumor

1 of 2

noun

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

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
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
The couple first sparked dating rumors after they were spotted together in New York City and Miami in February 2025, per TMZ. Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 25 June 2025 People have long speculated that the lottery was rigged for the big-market Knicks despite attempts from the NBA to shut down the rumors. Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 25 June 2025
Verb
No announcement has been made yet to that effect, but Happy Valley star James Norton, Snowfall’s Damson Idris, Tom Hardy, Henry Cavill, Regé-Jean Page, Richard Madden, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson have all been rumored or fan-cast at one point. EW.com, 26 June 2025 With this in mind, yesterday’s creative sector plan included the launch of a review examining how broadcasters can consolidate and strike partnerships more easily, coming with ITV rumored to be on the sales block. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 25 June 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rumor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rumor. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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

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