rumouredru‧moured British English, rumored American English /ˈruːməd $ -ərd/ verb 
It was rumoured that Johnson had been poisoned.be rumoured to be something She was rumoured to be a millionaire. a young man widely rumoured to be her lover
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- Graham Ferguson Lacey, with 20 percent, is expected in London shortly and a share placing is rumoured.
- He was wealthy, but it was rumoured that he was a heavy gambler and lost large sums in Monte Carlo.
- In the city it was rumoured that the Emperor was already dead.
- It was rumoured that banknotes were never withdrawn from circulation but simply frayed away.
- It was rumoured that Frederick had attempted to encourage Alexander to crown or at least support the coronation of his son Henry.
- Perhaps Mr Bush will not be as good as was first rumoured, but why the sudden turnaround in sentiment?
- The deal, though its precise value is closely guarded, is rumoured to rank as the largest leasing transaction of 1991.
Longman Language Activatorrules of acceptable behaviour
British /rumor American information which is passed from one person to another and which may or may not be true, especially information about people's private lives or about something that a government, company etc has done or is planning to do: · The truth finally came out after months of rumour and gossip.rumour about/of: · What's this rumour about you and Vince Foster?· There were rumours of bombings in the northern part of the country.rumour that: · The band denied the rumours that they may be splitting up.hear a rumour: · Have you heard the rumour about him and his secretary?spread a rumour (=tell other people a rumour): · Someone's been spreading nasty rumours about me.it's only a rumour: · I don't think he's going to resign. It's only a rumour.rumour has it that (=there is a rumour that): · Rumour has it that there will be major job cuts in the new year.
if there is speculation about something, especially about something that is happening in politics or public life, a lot of people are talking about it and trying to guess what the truth is - used especially in news reports: speculation about: · There was a great deal of speculation about a possible merger involving Belgium's largest banks.speculation that: · Washington was buzzing with speculation that the senator would resign.amid speculation: · Share prices increased amid speculation that the Bank of England would cut interest rates.prompt/fuel etc speculation (=start or increase speculation): · The news fuelled speculation that the President's health had become significantly worse.pure/wild/idle speculation (=speculation that is very unlikely to be true): · Reports that the couple are getting a divorce have been dismissed as wild speculation.
information which people tell each other about other people's private lives, and which may or may not be true, especially when this is done in an unkind or disapproving way: · I got back from my vacation eager to hear all the latest gossip.gossip about: · The conversation began to drift towards gossip about their colleagues.exchange gossip (with somebody) (=tell each other gossip): · Mrs Busby was always ready to exchange local gossip with the customers who came into her shop.gossip column (=part of a newspaper that contains gossip about famous people): · Recently her name has showed up a lot in gossip columns.malicious gossip (=unkind and untrue gossip that someone spreads deliberately): · I don't believe Liz had an affair with him. That's just malicious gossip.
when something immoral or shocking happens, often involving important people, organizations, or events, and it becomes known by the general public: · Have you heard the latest scandal? Mick Green's been arrested for bribery and corruption.scandal over: · The scandal over the deal forced the corporation's president to resign in disgrace.a scandal breaks/erupts: · A major scandal erupted in November 1989, with the discovery that cattle in the UK and Netherlands had been given food contaminated with lead.
information or news that you think might be true, although you do not have any definite proof: reports of: · The government has promised to investigate reports of police corruption.unconfirmed reports (=reports that have not yet been proved to be true): · We are getting unconfirmed reports of a gas explosion in downtown Los Angeles.
what people tell each other about other people's personal lives, especially about their sexual relationships: · In those days there was always talk if two people lived together without being married.just talk (=a rumour that is unlikely to be true): · "They say he's having an affair with a colleague at work." "That's just talk."
something that you have been told, or that you have heard only indirectly, but which you have no way of proving to be either true or untrue: · All the accounts were based on hearsay rather than eye-witness reports.· Judge Wagenbach ruled that the statement was inadmissible as evidence, after Mr. Lamb's attourney argued that it was hearsay.rely on hearsay: · A factual book is a lot better than relying on hearsay from friends.hearsay evidence (=evidence given in a court of law by someone who did not directly see something happen): · The court is not allowed to admit hearsay evidence.
if you hear some news or information on or through the grapevine , someone else tells it to you unofficially, often in conversation: · "Who told you I was moving house?" "Oh, I just heard it on the grapevine."· Freddie was distressed when, through the grapevine, he heard of Liza's marriage.the school/hospital/industry etc grapevine: · According to the high-school grapevine, Kelly wants me to ask her out on a date.
if someone or something is rumoured to be doing something, be happening, be in a particular condition etc, that is what you have heard people saying: · It's a five star hotel and rumored to be the best in Europe.· The hospital is rumoured to be heading for closure, after the government's announcement on cuts.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY a young man widely rumoured to be her loverCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
a young man widely rumoured to be her lover· The Beach is not the disaster that has been widely rumoured.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
be rumoured if something is rumoured to be true, people are saying secretly or unofficially that it may be trueit is rumoured that- He had girl friends from the age of twelve and was rumoured to drink beer not long afterwards.
- Industry bosses were rumoured to be reconsidering their plans, possibly curbing the increases to 10%.
- It was rumoured she had been a barmaid, heady stuff in those days.
- It was rumoured that Frederick had attempted to encourage Alexander to crown or at least support the coronation of his son Henry.
- It was rumoured that she was also a poisoner and a witch.
- Some rebel officers are rumoured to be involved in the latest border incursions.
- The deal, though its precise value is closely guarded, is rumoured to rank as the largest leasing transaction of 1991.
- The prisoners in Mozdok are rumoured to suffer worse torture than in those in Chernokozovo.
It was rumoured that Johnson had been poisoned.be rumoured to be something She was rumoured to be a millionaire. a young man widely rumoured to be her lover