1
: talk or opinion widely disseminated with no discernible source
We make our blunders … as rumor has it that you make your own.—
Benjamin N. Cardozo
Benjamin N. Cardozo2
: a statement or report current without known authority for its truth
She accused them of spreading rumors about her.
"Have you heard they broke up?" "That's just a rumor."
3
archaic
: talk or report of a notable person or event
4
: a soft low indistinct sound : murmur
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
Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
Herbert has been rumored to be in a relationship with singer Madison Beer, and the couple seemingly confirmed those rumors after appearing cozy courtside during an NBA game on Thursday.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Kelly Foster Lundquist, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
While nearly all four of those women had been rumored to be among the cast for some time, Sony did give us a few more clues as to what other real-life characters might get some prominent roles in the films.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rumor
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Noun
Perry and Trudeau first sparked romance rumors over the summer, when they were spotted on a date in Montreal, Canada.
—Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
Herbert has been rumored to be in a relationship with singer Madison Beer, and the couple seemingly confirmed those rumors after appearing cozy courtside during an NBA game on Thursday.
—Paulina Dedaj, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
Two of Judy Garland’s husbands were rumored to be gay, as were two of her daughter Liza Minnelli’s (one of them, Peter Allen, lived as an openly gay man later in life).
—Kelly Foster Lundquist, PEOPLE, 2 Nov. 2025
While nearly all four of those women had been rumored to be among the cast for some time, Sony did give us a few more clues as to what other real-life characters might get some prominent roles in the films.
—Brian Welk, IndieWire, 31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rumor
Cite this Entry
“Rumor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rumor. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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