supposed

adjective

sup·​posed sə-ˈpōzd 

senses 1b and 2a usually

sə-ˈpō-zəd 

senses 3 and 4 often

sə-ˈpōst 

1

a

: pretended

twelve hours are supposed to elapse between Acts I and II

—W. S. Gilbert

b

: alleged

trusted my supposed friends

2

a

: held as an opinion : believed

also : mistakenly believed : imagined

the sight which makes supposed terror true

—William Shakespeare

b

: considered probable or certain : expected

it was not supposed that everybody could master the technical aspects

—J. C. Murray

c

: understood

you will be supposed to refer to my grandaunt

—G. B. Shaw

3

: made or fashioned by intent or design

what's that button supposed to do

4

a

: required by or as if by authority

soldiers are supposed to obey their commanding officers

b

: given permission : permitted

was not supposed to have visitors

Synonyms

• presumed
• apparent
• possible
• seeming
• probable
• assumed
• obvious

Examples of supposed in a Sentence

this new computer program is a supposed improvement over the old one

Recent Examples on the Web

None of Iran’s supposed friends have offered anything more than verbal support despite the devastating blows the regime has suffered. —Douglas Schoen, Oc Register, 23 June 2025

The other supposed benefit is that MAGA accounts grow wealth for children from poor families. —Allison Schrager, Twin Cities, 22 May 2025

Over the past several years, hip-hop’s supposed decline has been a prevailing storyline. —Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2025

Quantum Takes a Quantum Leap Microsoft made news earlier this year with its supposed invention of a fourth state of matter to get more reliable quantum computing results. —Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 15 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing supposed

• be supposed to
• what's that supposed to mean

Rhymes for supposed

• decomposed
• discomposed
• indisposed
• interposed
• juxtaposed
• predisposed
• presupposed
• reimposed
• superposed
• undisclosed
• undisposed
• unenclosed

Kids Definition

supposed

adjective

sup·​posed sə-ˈpōzd 

sense 1 usually

-ˈpō-zəd 

senses 2 & 3 often

-ˈpōst 

1

: believed to be true or real

a supposed cure

2

: considered probable or certain : expected

they are supposed to be here tomorrow

3

: required by or as if by authority

you are supposed to listen to your parents

supposedly

-ˈpō-zəd-lē 

 also  -ˈpōz-dlē

adverb