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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

As the Fisherwoman admits after a transgression that threatens this happiness, “It’s easier to believe the bad than the good.”

From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2026

The BBC spoke to four people who have been part of the city's evolution and believe it has a chance of being crowned the UK City of Culture for 2029.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

"We believe in the North American market," the CEO of the company that makes the Q line of SUVs and crossovers told the cheering audience.

From Barron's ● Oct. 26, 2026

The researchers believe stronger clinical evidence could make SDF more widely available, including in pediatric medical settings where children often receive care long before their first dental appointment.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 26, 2026

“This is Marlene and me at the circus that day! Do you believe me now?”

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

While those people must be good at their roles, he believes that collaborative teams will outperform individuals who have a high level of functional brilliance, but don’t work well together.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026

A shipwreck off the coast of Turkey is the oldest shipwreck in the world, our team of archaeologists believes.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 26, 2026

Wendy Edelberg, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, believes central bankers would rather not put themselves in the middle of the political debate ahead of the midterms.

From Barron's ● Oct. 25, 2026

Rather than being a statistical quirk, Stovall said he believes things have played out this way for a reason.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 25, 2026

She believes young women are capable, deserving of independence, but she’s still my father’s younger sister, still responsible for me.

From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse

He has long believed better relations between the United States and Russia would be good for both countries, no matter who’s in power in Moscow.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026

Compared with participants who had not read the explanation, DARVO-educated participants believed the victim more and supported the perpetrator less.

From Salon ● Oct. 26, 2026

Carrick's position at Old Trafford is under major threat following the club's poor start to the season, with work towards identifying his successor believed to be ongoing.

From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026

They want women to be believed, treated with dignity and supported to remain in work.

From BBC ● Oct. 25, 2026

Whether Leah truly believed or whether she kept up a false story to propel herself into the comfortable middle class cannot be known.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

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

“There’s a difference between believing in the long-term potential of AI and believing every company exposed to that growth is appropriately valued,” he said in emailed comments.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 15, 2026

Jost compared Trump’s expectations to believing he might win an Oscar for *Tom & Jerry*.

From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026

The issuers are paying you for taking on the risk of believing in them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

“Hard work, faith, patience, and determination. I think that prayer and really believing in your wish can help more than anything else.”

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

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