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to rumor

to rumor

74 3.9
To tell people a story that may not be true
  • verb
  • /ˈrumər/
  • US
translation icon : rumorear
  • Meanwhile, Washington's rumored recent expansion of its drone strikes will erode their safe haven in Pakistan.
  • widely rumored
  • rumored plans
  • long-rumored

Maybe you're surrounded by people who are constantly gossiping and rumoring and and just stirring the pot, right?

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Examples

  • Caesar's heirs became emperors, and every member of his dynasty was rumored to have been murdered.

    Academic text (2014)
  • I have just received confirmation of what previously has been merely rumored.

  • Since then, it's rumored that she will let no man near her heart.

  • And then they had gone and just basically spread false rumors and given them fake stories about us.

  • Even the most popular club, Ground Zero, is rumored to be on shaky financial footing.

    Academic text (2018)
  • Since that time, it is rumored that anyone who enters the tunnel disappears without a trace.

    Academic text (1999)
  • It is rumored that Hynkel is going to give the Jewish people back their rights.

  • Think of objets d'art so rare they are only rumored to exist, the stuff of legend.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • Mugabe turned 86 in February and is rumored to have prostate cancer.

    Academic text (2010)
  • It is rumored that the new restaurant in town will open next month.

Synonyms

to bandy about
vsto rumor
11 6.8

Talk about an idea or name without careful thought

mean to spread uncertain stories but with emphasis on casual discussion
to bruit
vsto rumor
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To spread a rumor widely among people

circulate uncertain stories without implying gossip
to noise
vsto rumor
  • Archaic
8.4

To spread news or rumours widely among many people

focus on unconfirmed stories rather than general public news

Antonyms

1.8

To show that something is true by giving evidence

to validate
  • Formal
87 3.9

To make something officially acceptable by showing proof

Phrasal Verbs

To stop a rumor from spreading further

Compounds

rumor mill
  • Informal
7 4.5

A group or network that spreads gossip and stories not checked for truth

pestilential rumor
  • Literature
8.6

A harmful, quickly spreading story that causes distrust and trouble

How Widespread

to spread
750 1.6
to circulate
103 3.9
to rumor
  • US
74 3.9
to gossip
  • Informal
27 1.3
to murmur
11 4.2
to whisper
586 1.0

Surface Forms

rumor infinitive
rumour infinitive
rumored past
rumoured past
rumored past participle
rumoured past participle
rumoring present participle
rumouring present participle
rumors third person singular
rumours third person singular

Etymology

The verb rumor comes from the same Latin rumor meaning 'noise' and gives the image of people 'making a noise' by passing a story along. So to rumor something is to spread an unconfirmed story like a sound moving from person to person.