rumor
gb/ɹˈumɚ/ us/ɹˈumɚ/
B1
English
~ 9800
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
unverified information passed between people
A story or idea that many people talk about, but that is not proven to be true or official.
Usage pattern:
a rumor about [something/someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"listen a rumor"* instead of *"hear a rumor"*. Use verbs like *hear*, *spread*, *start*, *deny*, or *confirm* with *rumor*. Another confusion is spelling: American English uses *rumor*, while British English commonly uses *rumour*.
Synonyms
gossip (Often focuses on private or personal information about people, sometimes with a negative tone.)
|
hearsay (Stresses that the information is second-hand and not directly witnessed or proven.)
|
speculation (Suggests guessing or theorizing, often sounding more neutral or analytical than 'rumor'.)
Antonyms
fact (Information that is known to be true and can be proved.)
|
confirmation (Official or clear proof that something is true, the opposite of uncertain talk.)
|
official announcement (Information given formally and publicly by an authority, not passed informally between people.)
Collocations
spread rumors
|start a rumor
|deny rumors
|unfounded rumor
|persistent rumor
|rumor has it
Themes
communication
|media
|relationships
Examples
- There’s a rumor that the company will lay off staff next month.
- Social media helped the rumor spread very quickly.
- She dismissed the rumor about her resignation as completely false.
- According to rumor, the two actors are secretly dating.
- Investors reacted nervously to rumors of a possible merger.
Learner examples
- I heard a rumor that our teacher is leaving.
- There was a rumor about a new shopping mall in this area.
- They started a rumor, and soon the whole school knew.
- The singer said the rumor was not true.
- People should not spread bad rumors about others.
Verb
C1
action
2
to report something as a rumor
To say or report something that people talk about but that is not proven, usually in the form "it is rumored that...".
Usage pattern:
it is rumored that [clause]
Common mistake:
Many learners do not recognize *rumor* as a verb and instead use only the noun plus *say* (e.g., *"People say a rumor that..."*). In natural English you would say *"It is rumored that..."* or *"He is rumored to be..."*.
Synonyms
speculate (Focuses more on guessing or forming opinions without full facts, often more formal or analytical.)
|
whisper (Suggests quiet, secretive talk, often about sensitive or scandalous topics.)
|
hint (Implies suggesting something indirectly, not necessarily passing along widespread talk.)
Antonyms
confirm (Means to show clearly that something is true, the opposite of passing on unproven information.)
|
deny (Means to say that a statement or story is not true, often used in response to rumors.)
Collocations
it is rumored that
|rumored to be
|widely rumored
|long-rumored
Themes
communication
|media
|work
Examples
- It is rumored that the coach will step down at the end of the season.
- The CEO is rumored to be considering a move to another company.
- The long-rumored sequel was finally announced last week.
- Several candidates are rumored to be on the shortlist for the position.
Learner examples
- It is rumored that the bank will close some branches.
- The actor is rumored to be in a new movie.
- A big change is rumored for next year.
- He is rumored to have a new girlfriend.
Noun
archaic
C2
event
3
general public talk or noise
Old or literary use: the loud sound or talk from many people or from a crowd.
Synonyms
murmur (Suggests a low, continuous sound from people speaking quietly, often used in literary contexts.)
|
uproar (Suggests louder, chaotic noise or protest rather than just general sound.)
Antonyms
silence (The complete absence of sound, the opposite of a background of public talk or noise.)
Collocations
the rumor of war
|rumor of the crowd
|distant rumor
Themes
literature
|history
|communication
|daily_life
Examples
- From the castle walls they heard the distant rumor of the approaching army.
- The speech was met with a rising rumor of voices from the crowd.
- Night fell, and the city sank from busy rumor into quiet sleep.
Learner examples
- In this old poem, the word "rumor" means the loud sound of many people.
- The writer describes the rumor of the street outside the window.
- We almost never use this meaning of "rumor" in modern speaking.
Grammar
Dictionary form
rumor
IPA
GB/ɹˈumɚ/
US/ɹˈumɚ/
Syllables & stress
ru - mor (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ru)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: rumor
- Variant Spelling: rumour
- Plural: rumor, rumors
Verb
- Base: rumor
- Variant Spelling: rumour
- 3rd Person Singular: rumors
- Present Participle: rumoring
- Past: rumored
Word family
Forms
Advanced or less common
rumormonger
noun
Highlights
- Spelling Variant: rumour Verb
- Spelling Variant: rumour Noun
Expressions
deny the rumors
1/dɪnˈaɪ ðə ɹˈumɚz/
fixed phrase
to say rumors are not true
To say clearly and publicly that the stories people are talking about are not true.
Examples
- The company quickly issued a statement to deny the rumors.
- Her manager denied the rumors of a breakup.
- Officials denied the rumors that the borders would be closed.
quash a rumor
1/kwˈɔʃ ə ɹˈumɚ/
fixed phrase
to stop a rumor spreading
To stop a rumor by clearly saying it is not true or by giving correct information.
Examples
- The mayor held a press conference to quash the rumor about tax increases.
- Clear communication can help quash rumors before they grow.
- The director tried to quash the rumor by sharing the real numbers.
rumor has it (that)
1/ɹˈumɚ hˈæz ˈɪt ðˈæt/
idiom
people say, but it is unconfirmed
Used to introduce something that many people are saying, but that is not officially confirmed or proven.
Examples
- Rumor has it that the band is breaking up after this tour.
- Rumor has it she’s getting promoted, but nothing has been announced yet.
- Rumor has it that the restaurant will reopen under new owners.
spread rumors
1/spɹˈɛd ɹˈumɚz/
fixed phrase
to pass on untrue or unproven stories
To tell other people stories or information that are not proven, so that more and more people hear them.
Examples
- You shouldn’t spread rumors about your coworkers.
- Someone started to spread rumors online about the politician’s family.
- The school has a strict policy against spreading rumors.
start a rumor
1/stˈɑɹt ə ɹˈumɚ/
fixed phrase
to begin an unverified story
To be the first person to tell an unproven story or idea, hoping that other people will repeat it.
Examples
- Who started the rumor that the store was closing?
- He admitted that he had started the rumor as a joke.
- Don’t start a rumor just because you’re angry.
the rumor mill
1/ðə ɹˈumɚ mˈɪl/
idiom
informal
system that produces and spreads rumors
The process or group of people in a place (like an office or town) who regularly create and share rumors.
Examples
- The office rumor mill went into overdrive after the email from the CEO.
- According to the rumor mill, big changes are coming.
- She’s tired of being the main subject of the local rumor mill.