supposed
Americanadjective
-
merely thought or alleged to be such, on a very questionable basis; imagined.
When one tries to understand more about these supposed gains, they turn out to be nothing more than clever rhetoric.
-
accepted or believed to be so, without certain knowledge.
This is the supposed site of the ancient temple, based on recent archeological finds.
-
assumed for the sake of argument; hypothetical.
Given a supposed scenario where you see two students fighting in the schoolyard, how do you handle it?
verb
idioms
adjective
-
(prenominal) presumed to be true without certain knowledge
his supposed date of birth
-
(prenominal) believed to be true on slight grounds; highly doubtful
the supposed existence of ghosts
-
expected or obliged (to)
I'm supposed to be there at nine
-
expected or obliged not (to)
you're not supposed to walk on the grass
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of supposed
Explanation
If you are supposed to do something, it means that you'd better get to it. If you're supposed to go to your grandma's house for dinner, then your grandmother expects you. Something that's required is supposed, and something that's assumed to be true — even if it's really not — is also supposed. If you describe someone as your brother's supposed best friend, it means that everyone thinks of him as a good pal, but maybe he's not as loyal as they believe him to be. If higher taxes result in supposed improvements in your city's schools, things may be better, but there's still some doubt about it.
Vocabulary lists containing supposed
Words That Could Go Either Way: Synonyms for "Maybe"
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Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“The Man I’m Supposed to Be,” from his Feb. 27 LP “My Days of 58,” leans in the latter direction, with lyrics about living inside his head and losing connection to what matters.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 30, 2025
Supposed state sovereignty was another bulwark in protecting slavery.
From Salon • Jul. 26, 2025
After that surgery, during which a tumor was removed in its entirety from his brain, the “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You?” singer stayed quiet about the details.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2025
Bolton, who has sold more than 75 million records, is best known for hits such as How Am I Supposed to Live Without You, When a Man Loves a Woman and Said I Loved You...
From BBC • Jan. 6, 2024
“Oh, it’s only an old ndoro. The spirit mediums in the villages wear them. Supposed to have power, although if you ask me, it’s only superstition. It’s unusual-looking, though.”
From "The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm" by Nancy Farmer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
