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Synonyms

believe

American

[bih-leev] / bɪˈliv /

verb (used without object)

to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so.

Only if one believes in something can one act purposefully.

verb (used with object)

to have confidence or faith in the truth of (a positive assertion, story, etc.); give credence to.
to have confidence in the assertions of (a person).
to have a conviction that (a person or thing) is, has been, or will be engaged in a given action or involved in a given situation.

The fugitive is believed to be headed for the Mexican border.
to suppose or assume; understand (usually followed by a noun clause).

I believe that he has left town.

verb phrase

believe in
1. to be persuaded of the truth or existence of.
  
  to believe in Zoroastrianism; to believe in ghosts.
2. to have faith in the reliability, honesty, benevolence, etc., of.
  
  I can help only if you believe in me.

idioms

make believe. make.

believe British

/ bɪˈliːv /

verb

(tr; may take a clause as object) to accept (a statement, supposition, or opinion) as true

I believe God exists
(tr) to accept the statement or opinion of (a person) as true
to be convinced of the truth or existence (of)

to believe in fairies
(intr) to have religious faith
(when tr, takes a clause as object) to think, assume, or suppose

I believe that he has left already
(tr; foll by of; used with can, could, would, etc) to think that someone is able to do (a particular action)

I wouldn't have believed it of him

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

believe More Idioms

More idioms and phrases containing believe

Usage

Spelling tips for believe The word believe is hard to spell for two reasons. First, because it can be hard to remember the order of the i and e. Sometimes people want to spell it beleive, which is incorrect. Second, because it is pronounced [ bih-leev ], which makes you think there may be a second i in the word, as in bilieve. How to spell believe: The easiest way to remember how to spell believe is with the classic mnemonic device: “I before E, except after C." Believ[ing] is an important part of "being alive", which reminds you that the first syllable is be, not bi.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of believe

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English bileven, equivalent to bi- be- + leven, Old English (Anglian) gelēfan (cognate with Dutch gelooven, German glauben, Gothic galaubjan )

Explanation

If you believe something, you think it’s true. If you are easily duped then you might believe your little sister when she says a thief broke into the house and ate all your candy. Believe comes from old German words meaning to have trust. Belief doesn’t require proof, just acceptance. If you’re on a jury and the prosecution and defense present two different versions of what happened, you have to decide which side you believe. To believe can also mean having confidence. If you believe in me, it doesn’t mean that you think I’m real (unless I’m a ghost). It means you think I can do what I set out to do.

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Vocabulary lists containing believe

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

believe believes believed believing

"We are not anti-AI. Taking that position would be madness in a world that's becoming increasingly dependent on it. However, we believe that it's a tool, and not a substitute for trust."

From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026

Authorities didn’t name the suspect, but said he is a Polish citizen in his 20s who they believe acted alone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2026

And if we can still believe in this crazy democracy, then others should follow.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2026

Astronomers believe hundreds of faint galaxies may still be hiding around our galaxy, and the observatory could finally bring many of them into view.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 7, 2026

“Badger, I see what’s happened here. I don’t believe you are meant for the realm of Pain,” Clare said, somewhat begrudgingly.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

One of the club's most legendary figures, he believes they can inspire the current team to pull off another upset against League One Notts County, despite being separated by two divisions.

From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026

Lior Prosor, managing partner at venture-capital fund Deep33, believes Anthropic is “more likely to proceed than delay, with the company and its bankers agreeing to a somewhat steeper IPO discount for the volatility.”

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 7, 2026

Raam’s head, she added, has indicated he can compromise, while the Joint List believes the conditions don’t apply to them since they will not be part of the government.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 7, 2026

He believes the rest of the economy will follow suit.

From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026

She believes, down to her aching bones, that God won’t give her anything she can’t handle.

From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly

But he still believed, so we read in an enlarged reproduction from his first furniture catalog, that it was “economically practical to have a small enjoyable output in pleasant country surroundings.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 7, 2026

In July, the Guardia Civil said it was believed to have been started by a fallen power line, but that explanation has been called into question.

From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026

Scientists have discovered remarkably preserved traces of dinosaur blood inside 115-million-year-old bones, revealing that delicate biological molecules can survive far longer than previously believed.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 6, 2026

In an English-language statement, the former military chief said he believed in "liberal values" and also wanted to work "closely and constructively" with Trump.

From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026

For the first time since we’d come to Amsterdam, I believed that this might all work out.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

They then returned, believing someone was injured inside and wanted access.

From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2026

“These jobs aren’t even dirty jobs anymore,” said Yurick, adding that she has also heard from employers who say they are trying to hire women, believing they possess high maturity levels and are detail-oriented.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026

Despite believing she could write a novel in a matter of months, de Waal said it took more than a decade of rejection and learning the craft before she was published.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

Presenting as a traditional news source also increases the likelihood of viewers believing that the information presented is well-researched, she said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2026

She stood perfectly still, hardly believing the beauty of the sound, until Aunt Chipo yelled at her to move on.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023