believe
Americanverb (used without object)
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
idioms
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
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
-
believabilitynoun
-
believablenessnoun
-
believernoun
-
believingnoun
-
superbelievablenessnoun
-
prebelieveverb
-
believableadjective
-
half-believedadjective
-
half-believingadjective
-
superbelievableadjective
-
well-believedadjective
-
believablyadverb
-
believinglyadverb
-
superbelievablyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
believesimple
-
believessimple
-
have believedperfect
-
has believedperfect
-
am believingprogressive
-
are believingprogressive
-
is believingprogressive
-
have been believingperfect progressive
-
has been believingperfect progressive
Past
-
believedsimple
-
had believedperfect
-
was believingprogressive
-
were believingprogressive
-
had been believingperfect progressive
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.
Vocabulary lists containing believe
Spelling Practice, Unit 3
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Spelling Practice 1, Unit 4
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Spelling Practice 2, Unit 4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
“We are confident in the strength and competitive position of the business, and believe the company is well-positioned to deliver long-term value for all shareholders,” Wolf Pen Branch said in the statement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
CME’s FedWatch tool is giving a 38% chance of a rate hike this week, though most experts believe a hike is more likely in September.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 26, 2026
Some people, including Tellez, believe a diplomatic solution is still possible, in which a coalition of countries negotiates with Nicaragua’s leaders for a transition to democracy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
"We firmly believe adjustments are needed in the near future to better protect the integrity of our Masters 1000 events while remaining mindful of the realities players face," added Tetreault.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
Sancho was right; the pranksters were blowing air from bellows to make the riders believe they were flying.
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso says he has a "plan" to play club record £117m signing Morgan Rogers alongside Cole Palmer - and believes the England international will make an "instant impact".
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
Airlift’s Pandey, 32, said he believes that Chinese and U.S. drones need not be rivals on Everest—but could complement each other.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
The issue is a concern for Caine, who believes that the low inventories wouldn’t preclude a resumption of major combat operations against Iran, but would add to the risk, the officials added.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Combine these suspicions with his all-consuming grief and you can see why Swire is such a force to be reckoned with on his quest for a truth he believes has been denied to him.
From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026
But somehow, our mother believes her crimes are no big deal.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
At the time of the attack, Abdul B is believed to have been wearing a black hooded top and white trousers.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
The invasion has long puzzled biologists because Guam's population is believed to have begun with only a small number of snakes.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 26, 2026
He also believed that teenagers who commit crimes are not as culpable as adults.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
North Korea is believed to have pulled off some major intelligence feats over the years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
Tante Jans believed that our welfare in the hereafter depended on how much we could accomplish here on earth.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
“Unfortunately for him — I’ll never stop believing her, protecting her, or reminding her that her voice matters.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 24, 2026
"I miss believing in the goodness of humanity."
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
“Why aren’t we believing the kids? They are adults.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026
All this time, he had hardened his heart against his parents, believing they had abandoned him and Asa.
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026
“You are dunces, both of you, believing that rot,” I say.
From "Blood on the River" by Elisa Carbone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
