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

Neither will leadership, toughness, the supposed culture makeover or any other intangible be able to end the ignominous playoff-win drought. —Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2025

Any supposed investigation led by him would be the very definition of weaponization of the justice process. —Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Aug. 2025

The fact that Montreal’s defining MLS traits have been impatience and inconsistency give fans every reason to suspect incompetence until proven otherwise even without the bright red flashing light of supposed nepotism. —Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025

Yet, in a summer dominated by negativity and supposed failures, Newcastle has completed its mission to strengthen in goal, defence and at right-midfield. —Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 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