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 a quick look at where an app supposedly originated may not tell the whole story. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 There’s a gleaming hospital and a string of new downtown spots to supplement The Bar, the beloved dive that was supposedly among the inspirations for the Patch Café in the TV series Landman, which is set here. — Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026 In ancient, supposedly more savage times, public killings were common. — Dr. Michael Good, Hartford Courant, 22 Oct. 2026 Another transport official died of supposedly acute heart failure the same day. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 22 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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