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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

“In the U.S., we don’t believe that excitement has come through, so we think that’s an area where investors could benefit from the AI buildup,” he said.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

Agents, records show, came to believe Hartman was lying about his role in Kao’s pay-to-play operation and would name him as a formal subject of a future investigation.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

"That's why I believe it is vital to ensure that Perth and Kinross has a strong voice in the national conversation which is taking place about public service reform."

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

He understood military power and negotiating leverage, but he also knew that diplomacy can’t succeed if governments believe promises are merely words to be discarded when they become inconvenient.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

It was during this preinspection lineup one morning that I saw what I had till then refused to believe.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

He’s optimistic about the opportunity coming out of the deal and believes that the company’s push into real-world AI will benefit profitability going forward.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

"He believes that the more he and President Xi meet, the less confrontational that relationship will be," Orlins continued, "and he is right."

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

Calo believes AI labs help themselves when their tools reduce people’s busywork—filling out routine forms autonomously, for example, saving time and effort.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

The WGA settled that suit Monday but said it still believes the deal will harm writers and the industry.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

“Cautious, very cautious,” thought Emma; “he advances inch by inch, and will hazard nothing till he believes himself secure.”

From "Emma" by Jane Austen

Many believed that his decision to overhaul the house was a sign that he was planning to use the residence as a base for himself and his partner.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

They said: "Our father believed deeply in fairness, hard work, and supporting talented people in need."

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

And here I was, headed to meet the man I believed had started it all.

From Slate ● Sep. 22, 2026

Long before Mr. Trump made it a slogan, Jimmy believed America was great—a force for good in an imperfect world.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

I never believed in the spirits and I never professed to be a Spiritualist.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

But it’s hard to come away from her story believing that such a result would be attainable for others.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

And what you walk away believing is possible.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

Many Jeep-Ram dealers are on board with Stellantis’s new rules, believing they will curb runaway discounting and allow them to sell cars at higher prices.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 20, 2026

“I have a hard time believing that Chairman Warsh will have that much patience for above-target inflation,” said Stephen Stanley, chief U.S. economist at Santander Capital Markets.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026

“Too bad for him. Jonathan Michael. Grew up believing the world was created for him.”

From "Black Brother, Black Brother" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

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