rumour

Everyday

1. A rumour is a story or piece of news that people pass from one to another, which may not be true and has not been checked. tree →
2. To be rumoured means people say it but nobody is sure: It is rumoured that school will close. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life and lessons on friendship and online safety, rumours can hurt people's feelings and spread fast; a good rule is to check if it is true, kind and necessary before passing it on. In stories, rumours often cause trouble or misunderstandings. Phrases: spread a rumour, start a rumour, there is a rumour that, just a rumour.

Examples

• There is a rumour that we have a new teacher. tree →
• Do not spread rumours about other people. tree →
• It was only a rumour, it was not true. tree →
• Who started that rumour? tree →
• The rumour spread around the playground by lunchtime. tree →
• Rumours can be very hurtful. tree →
• It is rumoured that the old house is haunted. tree →
• Check the facts before you believe a rumour. tree →
• Then, one day, a rumour reached the king that a large army was marching against him. tree →

Note

British, Irish, Australian, NZ and Canadian spelling: rumour; American spelling: rumor. Countable. A rumour is not the same as a lie: it may be true or false, but nobody has checked it. Spreading untrue rumours can be a form of bullying.

In Jewish tradition

Ezekiel warns of rumour on rumour before disaster; Isaiah says Sennacherib will hear a rumour and go home, where he falls.

Interpretation. The commentators see the rumour as God's way of guiding events behind the scenes, such as removing Sennacherib from Jerusalem.

Examples

• Calamity shall come upon calamity, and rumour shall be upon rumour; and they shall seek a vision of the prophet, and instruction shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the elders. (Prophets EZK.7.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.' (Prophets 2KI.19.7, JPS 1917) tree →
• Behold, I will put a spirit in him, and he shall hear a rumour, and shall return unto his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.' (Prophets ISA.37.7, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

British, Irish, Australian, NZ and Canadian spelling: rumour; American spelling: rumor. Countable. A rumour is not the same as a lie: it may be true or false, but nobody has checked it. Spreading untrue rumours can be a form of bullying.