Word forms: plural rumoursregional note: in AM, use rumor
variable noun [oft NOUN that]
A rumour is a story or piece of information that may or may not be true, but that people are talking about.
We have been denying rumours of a split since the first week we got together.
There have been persistent rumours of quarrels within the movement.
There's a strange rumour going around at the moment about Peter.
[Also + of/about]
Synonyms: story, news, report, talk More Synonyms of rumour
rumour in British English
or US rumor (ˈruːmə)
noun
1.
a.
information, often a mixture of truth and untruth, passed around verbally
b.
(in combination)
a rumour-monger
2.
gossip or hearsay
3. archaic
din or clamour
4. obsolete
fame or reputation
verb
5. (tr; usually passive)
to pass around or circulate in the form of a rumour
it is rumoured that the Queen is coming
6. literary
to make or cause to make a murmuring noise
Word origin
C14: via Old French from Latin rūmor common talk; related to Old Norse rymja to roar, Sanskrit rāut he cries
COBUILD Collocations
rumour
dismiss rumours
fuel rumours
hear a rumour
malicious rumour
persistent rumours
rumour is true
rumours are rife
spread rumours
wild rumours
Examples of 'rumour' in a sentence
rumour
There were many whispers and rumours spread about each other and the friendship ended.
The Sun (2016)
Perhaps that senior journalist should have reported his own suspicions or acted upon rumours he had heard.
The Sun (2016)
There are also some rumours about the extent to which bargains were real bargains.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
But you must have heard the rumours?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I met him to make contact arrangements for our daughter and asked if the rumours were true.
The Sun (2016)
There are rumours being spread.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Rumours continued to spread yesterday.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Rumours abound about discord in the coaching team, and it is not as though they are greatly hampered by international call-ups.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Dublin is rife with rumour about the identity of the artist.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The couple were rumoured to have split once again earlier this week.
The Sun (2015)
Earlier he was forced to deny internet rumours that he had hit his wife.
The Sun (2014)
There are rumours he has health issues.
The Sun (2015)
Rumours are abound that former contestants will be returning to the house that made them infamous.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Then if she does hear rumours she will already know your side of the story.
The Sun (2014)
Their wonderful stories did not need embellishment with ridiculous rumour or vile gossip.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
September has been an unusually strong month for takeover rumours.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Our client must be confident the rumours are true.
The Sun (2011)
The couple are rumoured to be suffering marriage woes.
The Sun (2008)
But the chants and then rumours spread rapidly.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
He tried to dismiss rumours of ill health by challenging his critics to a game of squash.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He has heard rumours about an affair.
The Sun (2016)
The talk is all music industry rumour and gossip.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It turns out that a lot of the rumours were true.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Last week the government was forced to deny rumours that the cull was about to be called off.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Rumours can cause panic and riots.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Actually, there is one rumour that does make me smile.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The savaged bodies of roe deer in Gloucestershire last month fuelled rumours of a wild animal attack.
The Sun (2012)
Networks of information and rumour directed this feeling throughout and beyond New England.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
There have been persistent rumours of conflict between Peace and Sands.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
rumour
British English: rumour /ˈruːmə/ NOUN
A rumour is a piece of information that may or may not be true, but that people are talking about.
He denied rumours that he was planning to visit the country later this month.
American English: rumor
Arabic: إشَاعَة
Brazilian Portuguese: rumor
Chinese: 谣言
Croatian: glasina
Czech: fáma
Danish: rygte
Dutch: gerucht
European Spanish: rumor
Finnish: huhu
French: rumeur
German: Gerücht
Greek: φήμη διάδοση
Italian: diceria
Japanese: うわさ
Korean: 소문
Norwegian: rykte
Polish: pogłoska
European Portuguese: rumor
Romanian: zvon
Russian: слух
Latin American Spanish: rumor
Swedish: rykte
Thai: ข่าวลือ
Turkish: söylenti
Ukrainian: чутка
Vietnamese: tin đồn
All related terms of 'rumour'
rumour mill
You can refer to the people in a particular place or profession who spread rumours as the rumour mill .
rumour-monger
If you call someone a rumour-monger , you disapprove of the fact that they spread rumours.
hear a rumour
A rumour is a story or piece of information that may or may not be true, but that people are talking about.
malicious rumour
A rumour is a story or piece of information that may or may not be true, but that people are talking about.
rumour is true
A rumour is a story or piece of information that may or may not be true , but that people are talking about.
rumour-mongering
the act of spreading rumours
gossip mill
a source of unofficial and unreliable information
rumor-monger
a person who is given to spreading rumours
rumour/legend/tradition etc has it
You can use has it in expressions such as ' rumour has it that ' or ' as legend has it ' when you are quoting something that you have heard , but you do not necessarily think it is true .
Chinese translation of 'rumour'
rumour
or (US) rumor
(ˈruːməʳ)
n(c/u)
谣(謠)言 (yáoyán) (个(個), gè)
vt
it is rumoured that ... 据(據)谣(謠)传(傳) ... (jù yáochuán ... )
(noun)
Definition
gossip or common talk
There's a strange rumour going around.
Synonyms
story
Those are some of the top stories in the news.
news
They still haven't had any news about the survivors.
report
According to report, she made an impact at the party.
talk
There has been a lot of talk about my fancy new job.
word
The word is that he's planning to retire.
whisper (informal)
I've heard a whisper that he is planning to resign.
buzz
The buzz is that she knows something.
gossip
There has been a lot of gossip about the reasons for his absence.
a magazine packed with celebrity gossip
dirt (slang)
Both parties use computers to dig up dirt on their opponents.
goss (informal)
hearsay
Much of what was reported to them was hearsay.
canard
tidings
scuttlebutt (US, slang)
bush telegraph
bruit (archaic)
phrase
See be rumoured
Additional synonyms
in the sense of buzz
The buzz is that she knows something.
Synonyms
gossip,
news,
report,
latest (informal),
word,
scandal,
rumour,
whisper (informal),
dirt (slang),
gen (British, informal),
hearsay,
scuttlebutt (US, slang),
goss (informal)
in the sense of dirt
Definition
harmful gossip
Both parties use computers to dig up dirt on their opponents.
Synonyms
scandal,
rumours,
gossip,
goss (informal),
slander,
tattle,
dirty linen (informal),
aspersion
in the sense of gossip
Definition
idle talk, usually about other people's private lives, esp. of a disapproving or malicious nature
There has been a lot of gossip about the reasons for his absence.a magazine packed with celebrity gossip
Synonyms
idle talk,
scandal,
hearsay,
tittle-tattle,
buzz,
dirt (slang),
goss (informal),
jaw (slang),
gen (British, informal),
small talk,
chitchat,
blether,
scuttlebutt (US, slang),
chinwag (British, informal),
clishmaclaver (Scottish),
newsmongering (old-fashioned)
Synonyms of 'rumour'
rumour
Explore 'rumour' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of hearsay
Definition
gossip or rumour
Much of what was reported to them was hearsay.
Synonyms
rumour,
talk,
gossip,
report,
buzz,
dirt (slang),
goss (informal),
word of mouth,
tittle-tattle,
talk of the town,
scuttlebutt (slang, US),
idle talk,
mere talk,
on dit
in the sense of news
Definition
information about such events, reported in the mass media
They still haven't had any news about the survivors.
Synonyms
information,
latest (informal),
report,
word,
story,
release,
account,
statement,
advice,
exposé,
intelligence,
scandal,
rumour,
leak,
revelation,
buzz,
gossip,
dirt (slang),
goss (informal),
disclosure,
bulletin,
dispatch,
gen (British, informal),
communiqué,
hearsay,
tidings,
news flash,
scuttlebutt (US, slang)
in the sense of report
Definition
a story for which there is no absolute proof
According to report, she made an impact at the party.
Synonyms
rumour,
talk,
buzz,
gossip,
goss (informal),
hearsay,
scuttlebutt (US, slang)
in the sense of talk
Definition
idle chatter, gossip, or rumour
There has been a lot of talk about my fancy new job.
Synonyms
gossip,
rumour,
hearsay,
tittle-tattle,
goss (informal)
in the sense of whisper
Definition
a rumour
I've heard a whisper that he is planning to resign.