DictionaryAI

rumour

UKROO-muh/ˈɹuːmə(ɹ)/USROO-mer/ˈɹuːmɚ/

Pluralrumours

Verbrumours, rumouring, rumoured

US spellingrumor

6 meanings of rumour

Practice

  1. 1
    unconfirmed storynouncountable or uncountable
    Something people tell each other that may not be true, and that nobody can say for sure where it came from.

    There's a rumour going round that our maths teacher is leaving.

    She was hurt by the nasty rumours about her family.

    UsageSay a rumour that something is true. Rumours go round or spread.

    Similarstory, whisper

    Note
  2. 2
    said to beverbtransitive
    To pass on a story about something, when nobody knows if it is true.

    The singer is rumoured to be getting married this summer.

    It was rumoured that the school would close at the end of the year.

    UsageTo say who tells the story, say they spread a rumour.

    Similarreport, say, allege

    Note
  3. 3
    newsnounarchaicuncountable
    News about something, or what people have heard about it.

    For months there was no rumour of the ship or its crew.

    It stands a city aloof. There hath been no rumour of it—I alone have dreamed of it, and I may not be sure that my dreams are true.
    1906, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], Time and the Gods

    Similarreport

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 4
    famenounobsoleteuncountable
    Fame, or what people generally think of someone.
    Note
  2. 5
    nounobsoleteuncountable
    Loud noise, or loud shouting and protest by people.
    Note
  3. 6
    faint noisenounliterarycountable or uncountable
    A long noise that you cannot hear clearly.

    From the hill we could hear the low rumour of the town below.

    Prithee, listen well; / I heard a bustling rumour like a fray, / And the wind brings it from the Capitol.
    1599, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”
    Note

Practice

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Origin

From the Latin word rūmor, meaning 'common talk', through Old French.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 2 facts