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

“Investors believe the Fed’s resolve will ultimately bring inflation under control, which is a precondition for a durable equity rally,” said Chris Osmond, chief investment officer for Fifth Third Wealth Advisors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026

I believe I know which half hour he meant.

From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026

There is no treatment available for psychopathy, as "psychopaths often believe that there's nothing wrong with them".

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

But, Kasyanov said, he did not believe Putin was preparing for open war with Europe.

From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026

I understand what she’s saying is mostly true, but I have to believe that he’s not always like she says, because he can be good to me too.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam

It really comes down to how coaches hold themselves accountable and what a principal believes in supporting.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

Yet Colas believes this hollowing-out has left the market in a fragile state.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 4, 2026

He is struggling to reconcile the man who he believes killed his sister with the man he has known and loved for nearly 40 years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026

He has been following Chelsea's latest captain Reece James, who he believes will grow into a better leader, since over-30 players Jordan Henderson, Danny Welbeck and Emiliano Martinez joined over the summer.

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

He believes the rainbow is a sign from God and that comets portend evil.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Her son Luca Dotti once said in an interview: "She believed very much that there is a struggle between good and evil and you have to take sides."

From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026

That makes the crater nearly 100 million years younger than previously believed.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 4, 2026

The mines responsible for the blast, which left three soldiers wounded, were believed to have been laid as part of Pyongyang's border fortification work, according to South Korea's defence minister Kang Shin-chul.

From Barron's ● Oct. 3, 2026

Even before they had any shoes to sell, On’s founders believed less could be much, much more.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026

Essa Lightborne fans were starting to lose hope, but I still believed.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

The latter seemingly bought into some of the era’s storylines and ringside magic, believing that a rousing speech to the wrestlers in the locker room would convince them to strike.

From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2026

He left Baidu for Google, and later left OpenAI as well over strategy, believing AI safety there had been sidelined.

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

Local prosecutors decided not to press charges, believing she hadn’t alleged any criminal behavior.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2026

This was when Schmitt, believing he was on the verge of a slam dunk, accused Smith of perjury.

From Slate ● Sep. 29, 2026

Some of the men were dangerously close to believing they would never get out of the ice at all.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

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