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
Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 15 Apr. 2024
Gwen Stefani shuts down Blake Shelton divorce rumors, admits to 'getting paranoid' in relationship.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 13 Apr. 2024
The two-door 500e technically seats four, but rear legroom is a rumor more than a feature.
—Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2024
People who form their views from TikTok videos, rumors, misinformation-laden social-media posts, and Al-Jazeera Arabic’s pro-Hamas coverage will have a skewed understanding of October 7 and the war.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
Since Shariff’s report trade rumors have now popped up linking Parsons with other teams including the Cowboys’ NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024
The events have sparked rumors and conspiracy theories as the public tries to understand how or if they are connected.
—Ashley Luthern, Journal Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2024
There was never a big announcement about the potential spin-off, with news of it only trickling out in 2022 when GoT creator George R.R. Martin confirmed some swirling rumors.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2024
Recently, rumors have linked her to The Bear‘s Jeremy Allen White.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024
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
The 42-year-old is rumored to be dating a rapper named Hunxho, 24.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 9 Apr. 2024
Matthew McConaughey has been rumored to star in the sequel show for sometime now and Puck is reiterating that Sheridan still wants the Texas actor in the show, along with actress Michelle Pfeiffer.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2024
There are also many speculations out there, such as a combination in store for Warner Bros. Discovery, which has staged talks with Paramount and others, while Paramount itself is rumored to be in talks for a combination, partial or full sale, or something else entirely.
—Amanda Cioletti, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
The film has a release date of July 25, 2025, and is rumored to take place in the 1960s, the era in which writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby first introduced the Fantastic Four, the super team that launched the Marvel Universe in comics.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Apr. 2024
Who is Jason Sudeikis dating? Sudeikis, 48, is rumored to be dating English actor Elsie Hewitt, 28, after the two were photographed together in West Hollywood, California, on Thursday, Jan. 11.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 Apr. 2024
Remember, sunglasses, telescopes, or any other method that is rumored to work, are not safe methods to view the eclipse.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 1 Apr. 2024
Noun
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
Gwen Stefani shuts down Blake Shelton divorce rumors, admits to 'getting paranoid' in relationship.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 13 Apr. 2024
The two-door 500e technically seats four, but rear legroom is a rumor more than a feature.
—Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 10 Apr. 2024
People who form their views from TikTok videos, rumors, misinformation-laden social-media posts, and Al-Jazeera Arabic’s pro-Hamas coverage will have a skewed understanding of October 7 and the war.
—Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024
Since Shariff’s report trade rumors have now popped up linking Parsons with other teams including the Cowboys’ NFC East rival, the Philadelphia Eagles.
—Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Apr. 2024
The events have sparked rumors and conspiracy theories as the public tries to understand how or if they are connected.
—Ashley Luthern, Journal Sentinel, 9 Apr. 2024
There was never a big announcement about the potential spin-off, with news of it only trickling out in 2022 when GoT creator George R.R. Martin confirmed some swirling rumors.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2024
Recently, rumors have linked her to The Bear‘s Jeremy Allen White.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 2 Apr. 2024
Verb
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
The 42-year-old is rumored to be dating a rapper named Hunxho, 24.
—Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 9 Apr. 2024
Matthew McConaughey has been rumored to star in the sequel show for sometime now and Puck is reiterating that Sheridan still wants the Texas actor in the show, along with actress Michelle Pfeiffer.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Mar. 2024
There are also many speculations out there, such as a combination in store for Warner Bros. Discovery, which has staged talks with Paramount and others, while Paramount itself is rumored to be in talks for a combination, partial or full sale, or something else entirely.
—Amanda Cioletti, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
The film has a release date of July 25, 2025, and is rumored to take place in the 1960s, the era in which writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby first introduced the Fantastic Four, the super team that launched the Marvel Universe in comics.
—Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Apr. 2024
Who is Jason Sudeikis dating? Sudeikis, 48, is rumored to be dating English actor Elsie Hewitt, 28, after the two were photographed together in West Hollywood, California, on Thursday, Jan. 11.
—Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 2 Apr. 2024
Remember, sunglasses, telescopes, or any other method that is rumored to work, are not safe methods to view the eclipse.
—Anna Halkidis, Parents, 1 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.
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
Dictionary Entries Near rumor
Cite this Entry
“Rumor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rumor. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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More from Merriam-Webster on rumor
Nglish: Translation of rumor for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of rumor for Arabic Speakers
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