rumor
/ˈruː.mər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈruː.mɚ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈrü-mər/ (ame, mw)
rumor — noun
- rumorsingular
- rumorsplural
1. unverified information that passes informally from one person to another, withou
unverified information that passes informally from one person to another, without anyone being sure whether it is true or false
After the factory announced it was closing, rumors spread through the town within hours.
Rumors spread quickly through the neighborhood whenever something unusual happened, even though most people had no real information to share.
rumors spread + through + place for the general phenomenon
Élise told her friends to ignore the rumor because nobody could confirm the story.
The rumor that the office would close made many employees feel anxious about their jobs.
- gossip
more personal and often about people's private lives, usually informal
- hearsay
formal or legal term; information heard from others that is not accepted as proof
- speculation
focuses on guessing, not on whether information is being passed along
- fact
information that has been verified and proven true
文法句型
rumor + about + noun
rumor + that-clause
rumor + of + noun
用法筆記
Rumor can be uncountable when referring to the general phenomenon ('Rumor travels fast') or countable when referring to a specific story ('a rumor about the mayor').
常見錯誤
2. a specific unverified story or claim about someone or something that is being ac
a specific unverified story or claim about someone or something that is being actively talked about
Saira heard a strange rumor that the old library would be turned into a shopping mall.
rumor + that-clause for a specific claim
A rumor that the bridge was unsafe kept many drivers away for several weeks.
The rumor that fifty shoe factory workers would be laid off spread until an official statement appeared.
There is a rumor going around the office that Lara will be promoted to manager next month.
文法句型
a rumor + that-clause
there is a rumor + that-clause
rumor + about + noun
rumor — verb
- rumorpresent simple I / you / we / they
- rumors3rd person singular
- rumoring-ing form
- rumoredpast simple
1. to spread or report something as a rumor, without knowing whether it is actually
to spread or report something as a rumor, without knowing whether it is actually true; used almost exclusively in the passive voice
It is rumored that the company plans to open three new stores in Taipei this year.
passive: it is rumored that + clause
Xiu is rumored to be the leading candidate for the job at the hospital.
passive: be rumored to be + noun phrase
The actor was rumored to have signed a contract worth over two million dollars.
For years it was rumored that the old hotel had a secret tunnel to the nearby river.
文法句型
be rumored + that-clause
be rumored + to-infinitive
be rumored + to be + noun/adjective
用法筆記
This verb is almost never used in the active voice. Native speakers almost always say 'It is rumored that...' or '[Someone] is rumored to...' rather than 'People rumor that...'.