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

It was also suggested in the summer that United's coaching team did not believe 19-year-old Harry Amass, who was Shaw's stand-in during pre-season, was yet at the right level.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

Not because listeners believe everything they hear, but because they don’t realize what they aren’t hearing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

“We believe in two things: that everybody’s capable and that we belong to each other. That’s been our message for 40 years and it’s a message for the modern Olympiad too.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

Simon Kim and his co-managers for the Saturna International Fund believe that the artificial-intelligence build-out still has a long way to go, despite market jitters over high valuations.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026

Two months ago, angry, I didn’t believe Father had any feelings for anything other than land.

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

He believes there is still a deep hunger for Cole’s history, its French dip and its setting.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

Now he believes AI is about to supercharge his life’s mission.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

Monica believes there should be more support for those with lichen sclerosus.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

Edward believes apps are designed so you don't actually find "the one"

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

How, though, are we to explain the peculiar fact that della Porta both believes in and rejects the garlic/magnet antipathy?

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

In the days following the publication of the article, the court heard that two men in a car shouted at Young's daughter, and she believed they photographed her.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

Ash and other members told MarketWatch that they believed the status quo left American consumers at a disadvantage.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026

An unemployed former hotel employee who gave her first name as Oumy said as she marched on the weekend that she no longer believed in the government's promises.

From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026

Wright had attended Railey’s church; he reported on the crime for Texas Monthly and interviewed Railey, whom he believed to be guilty.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

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

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

“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

"I am grateful to them for believing in this idea and for protecting this building and two centuries' worth of stories for people to enjoy forever."

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

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

From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026

And we will be fooled into believing that’s the best, or worst, thing comedy has to offer.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

I like how Zarra talks direct, believing every word she says.

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

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