supposed to

Idioms  

1. Intended to; also, believed to, expected to. For example, This pill is supposed to relieve your pain , or You're supposed to be my partner . [Early 1300s]

2. Required to, as in He is supposed to call home . [Mid-1800s]

3. not supposed to . Not permitted to, as in You're not supposed to smoke in here .

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Example Sentences

“How Was I Supposed to Know?” fell off the R&B ranking in its second week.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 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

Supposed to be above the political fray, Italy’s president also can serve as a sort of moral compass for the country and a guardian of the values laid out in Italy’s post-war Constitution.

From Washington Times • Sep. 22, 2023

After his film successes he hit Broadway, writing and where he wrote and produced the Tony-award nominated musical, Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death.

From BBC • Sep. 23, 2021

“Once or twice I think. They’re some old crew of powerful phantoms. Supposed to have, like, a golden glow. No one knows too much about ’em.

From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older