believe
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.
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.
believe in,
to be persuaded of the truth or existence of: to believe in Zoroastrianism; to believe in ghosts.
to have faith in the reliability, honesty, benevolence, etc., of: I can help only if you believe in me.
Idioms about believe
make believe. make1 (def. 68).
Origin of believe
1Other words from believe
- be·liev·a·bil·i·ty [bih-leev-uh-bil-i-tee], /bɪˌliv əˈbɪl ɪ ti/, be·liev·a·ble·ness, noun
- be·liev·a·ble, adjective
- be·liev·a·bly, adverb
- be·liev·er, noun
- be·liev·ing·ly, adverb
- half-be·lieved, adjective
- half-be·liev·ing, adjective
- pre·be·lieve, verb, pre·be·lieved, pre·be·liev·ing.
- su·per·be·liev·a·ble, adjective
- su·per·be·liev·a·ble·ness, noun
- su·per·be·liev·a·bly, adverb
- well-be·lieved, adjective
Words Nearby believe
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use believe in a sentence
The thing that I believe I got the advantage is the teammates because he left the team, and all the teammates that helped me get prepared for him know him very well.
As Kamaru Usman edges toward UFC greatness, his former teammate wants to stop him | Glynn A. Hill | February 12, 2021 | Washington PostWe listened to people, and there are a lot of people who tried to stand up for what they believed in and weren’t really heard.
The NBA’s week of controversies show how hard life is outside of the bubble | Ben Golliver | February 12, 2021 | Washington PostThose who want to wrap themselves in the flag and believe the song conveys what it means to be an American — “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave” — can absolutely believe that.
The pregame national anthem — in all its roiling contradictions — still has something to offer | Barry Svrluga | February 11, 2021 | Washington PostThose squads are often hailed as reason to believe there is another way, but you’re talking about four exceptional teams over three decades.
The NFL’s top QBs are waking up to their power, following Tom Brady and LeBron James | Jerry Brewer | February 11, 2021 | Washington PostTo know that I would be waiting for 450 days or something like that, I wouldn’t believe it one bit, but here we are.
For this college football team, covid means the season starts in February — with Senior Day | Glynn A. Hill | February 11, 2021 | Washington Post
People watch night soaps because the genre allows them to believe in a world where people just react off their baser instincts.
‘Empire’ Review: Hip-Hop Musical Chairs with an Insane Soap Opera Twist | Judnick Mayard | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThe death toll, which experts believe has been significantly undercut by secret burials, stands at 7,905.
Three quarters of those people believe the end of the world is nigh.
I believe in the power of institutions—Congress, public policy, certain ideas about politics—that last for a long time.
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society | Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTWhat they believe impacts economic policy, foreign policy, education policy, environmental policy, you name it.
He did believe you, more or less, and what you said fell in with his own impressions—strange impressions that they were, poor man!
Confidence | Henry JamesI believe that these are ideal characters constructed from still more ancient legends and traditions.
God and my Neighbour | Robert Blatchford"I verily believe they're gone to look at my button," cried Davy, beginning to laugh, in spite of his fears.
Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. CarrylI cannot believe that God would think it necessary to come on earth as a man, and die on the Cross.
God and my Neighbour | Robert BlatchfordI cannot believe that a good God would create or tolerate a Devil, nor that he would allow the Devil to tempt man.
God and my Neighbour | Robert Blatchford
British Dictionary definitions for believe
/ (bɪˈliːv) /
(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
(intr foll by in) 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
Origin of believe
1Derived forms of believe
- believability, noun
- believable, adjective
- believably, adverb
- believer, noun
- believing, noun, adjective
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with believe
In addition to the idioms beginning with believe
- believe it or not
- believe one's ears
also see:
- lead one to believe
- make believe
- you'd better believe it
Also seeseeing is believing.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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