supposedly

adverb

sup·​pos·​ed·​ly sə-ˈpō-zəd-lē How to pronounce supposedly (audio)
also -ˈpōzd-lē
Synonyms of supposedlynext
: as is supposed : according to what is or was said, claimed, or believed by some
a supposedly true story
a supposedly good restaurant
He had dozens of people around him, supposedly looking after him …—Philip Norman
Daddy took me to the Legion, to shoot pool supposedly.—Mary Karr

Synonyms of supposedly

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Examples of supposedly in a Sentence

she's supposedly too sick to come—or so she says
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
So reasoning traces, the very things that supposedly distinguish LRMs from the mere next-word-predicting LLMs, are not necessarily either meaningful or causal to a model’s … reasoning? — John Pavlus, Quanta Magazine, 31 July 2026 Maybe the domain is too diseased to rehabilitate for clicks, even under its supposedly privacy-forward rebrand. — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 30 July 2026 An unsigned article published on the White House’s website that August broadened the attack by calling out a number of different museums for their supposedly offensive messaging and exhibitions. — News Desk, Artforum, 30 July 2026 Such details include McCartney’s bare feet and opposite stride and the other members’ attire (Lennon’s white supposedly represents a clergyman, Starr’s black a mourner, and Harrison’s denim a gravedigger). — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for supposedly

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of supposedly was in 1597

Rhymes for supposedly

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Browse Nearby Words

supposed
supposedly
supposer
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Cite this Entry

“Supposedly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/supposedly. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of supposedly for Spanish Speakers

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