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 …

—George Bernard 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 of supposed

• 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

In fact, many of its offerings are treatments for supposed vaccine injuries. —Arthur Allen, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2025

And with Border Patrol agents having already arrived, Oakland police advised the public Thursday to call 911 if a supposed law enforcement agent without identification arrived at their homes. —Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025

But Bet alleges that Rozier planned to remove himself from the first quarter of the Charlotte Hornets game against the New Orleans Pelicans over a supposed injury. —Dan Gallo, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025

The supposed hardship Combs is under was brought into the spotlight and the courtroom on October 3 in defense lawyer Brian Steel’s presentation to Judge Subramanian. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 7 Oct. 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