supposed

be supposed to do/be something
a) used to say what someone should or should not do, especially because of rules or what someone in authority has said:
We’re supposed to check out of the hotel by 11 o'clock.
I’m not supposed to tell anyone.
What time are you supposed to be there?
b) used to say what was or is expected or intended to happen, especially when it did not happen:
No one was supposed to know about it.
The meeting was supposed to take place on Tuesday, but we’ve had to postpone it.
The new laws are supposed to prevent crime.
c) used to say that something is believed to be true by many people, although it might not be true or you might disagree:
The castle is supposed to be haunted.
‘Dirty Harry’ is supposed to be one of Eastwood’s best films.
Mrs Carver is supposed to have a lot of money.
GRAMMAR
Do not say 'be suppose to do something'. Use be supposed to:
▪ You’re supposed to take your shoes off.
▪ He’s supposed to be very clever.

supposed

sup·posed [supposed] [səˈpəʊzd] [səˈpoʊzd] adjective only before noun
used to show that you think that a claim, statement or way of describing sb/sth is not true or correct, although it is generally believed to be
Syn: alleged
• This is the opinion of the supposed experts.

• When did this supposed accident happen?

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Idioms
be supposed to do/be something
1 to be expected or required to do/be something according to a rule, a custom, an arrangement, etc You're supposed to buy a ticket, but not many people do.
I thought we were supposed to be paid today.
The engine doesn't sound like it's supposed to.
You were supposed to be here an hour ago!
How was I supposed to know you were waiting for me?
‘Yes and no.’ ‘What is that supposed to mean?’ (= showing that you are annoyed)

+ EXPRESS YOURSELF

2 to be generally believed or expected to be/do something I haven't seen it myself, but it's supposed to be a great movie.
She's supposed to have had hundreds of lovers.

not be supposed to do something
to not be allowed to do something You're not supposed to walk on the grass.
Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 9th edition © Oxford University Press, 2015

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

supposed / səˈpəʊzd / / -ˈpoʊzd / adjective (DUTY)

be supposed to B2 to have to; to have a duty or a responsibility to:

The children are supposed to be at school by 8.45 a.m.

What are you doing out of bed - you're supposed to be asleep.

You're not supposed (= allowed) to park here.

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

supposed

♦♦
(Pronounced [səpo͟ʊzd] or [səpo͟ʊst] for meanings 1 to 4, and [səpo͟ʊzɪd] for meaning 5.)
1) PHR-MODAL If you say that something is supposed to happen, you mean that it is planned or expected. Sometimes this use suggests that the thing does not really happen in this way.
  He produced a hand-written list of nine men he was supposed to kill...
  Public spending is supposed to fall, not rise, in the next few years.
  Syn:
  is meant to
2) PHR-MODAL If something was supposed to happen, it was planned or intended to happen, but did not in fact happen.
  He was supposed to go back to Bergen on the last bus, but of course the accident prevented him...
  The first debate was supposed to have been held on Tuesday.
3) PHR-MODAL If you say that something is supposed to be true, you mean that people say it is true but you do not know for certain that it is true.
  `The Whipping Block' has never been published, but it's supposed to be a really good poem...
  `The President cannot be disturbed,' his son is supposed to have told an early morning caller.
  Syn:
  be meant to
4) PHR-MODAL (feelings) You can use `be supposed to' to express annoyance at someone's ideas, or because something is not happening in the proper way.
  You're supposed to be my friend!...
  Don't try to tell me what I'm supposed to be feeling...
  What am I supposed to have done wrong now?
5) ADJ: ADJ n You can use supposed to suggest that something that people talk about or believe in may not in fact exist, happen, or be as it is described.
  Not all indigenous regimes were willing to accept the supposed benefits of British trade.
  ...when the rule of law is broken by its supposed guardians.
  Syn:
  alleged
  Derived words:
  supposedly [səpo͟ʊzɪdli] ADV ADV with v, ADV with cl/group He was more of a victim than any of the women he supposedly offended... Supposedly his last words to her were: `You must not pity me.'

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

supposed

sup·posed /səˈpoʊzəd/ adj always used before a noun : claimed to be true or real - used to say that a particular description is probably not true or real even though many people believe that it is
• a supposed cure for cancer
• supposed experts

American English

British English

duty - obligation and responsibility

B2 (Upper-intermediate)

adjective

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