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.
These are challenges that supposedly don't hit a flat, non-folding display anywhere near as hard. — Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Some protesters carried pink flamingo balloons, a reference to the birds supposedly threatened by the resort construction project. — ABC News, 4 July 2026 The Five-Star Weekend meets Hollis, a woman who supposedly has it all, when an unexpected tragedy strikes. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026 Given how much her game was supposedly based around the combination of big serve and huge forehand, winning three French Opens has to be one of the biggest achievements in her career. — Aaliyah Jones, New York Times, 30 June 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 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on supposedly

Nglish: Translation of supposedly for Spanish Speakers

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