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

They added: "We refuse to be intimidated by those whose actions we believe are being taken in bad faith and with the intent to profit from the life of someone who willingly gave so much."

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

“If managed poorly, I even believe AI could be a risk to humanity as a whole,” Amodei said Wednesday.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

They tend to be socially conservative and believe in family values.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

That sentiment cropped up repeatedly in interviews, too: Early guests seemed to believe the museum’s brochure, which notes that the galleries are about the “narrative art” of illustrating stories.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026

It was so perfect that even I, who had just seen twelve people eating here, could scarcely believe this was anything but an innocent old man dining with his daughters.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

“Antonio believes in his innocence. He believes strongly in his Stand Your Ground defense, and he believes he would ultimately prevail at trial,” Eiglarsh said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026

Starboard also wants the company to evaluate strategic alternatives including a potential sale, as it believes its business has a high barrier to entry and could be attractive to potential suitors, the people said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

But Keirstead believes that it’s “increasingly likely” that investors will rotate back into high-growth AI infrastructure names.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

But having lived through both the 20 February movement in 2011 that changed the constitution and the recent Gen Z movement, she believes change must come from a multi-faceted approach.

From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026

Dr. Cohen beams as if he genuinely believes I’m glad to be coming in second.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

In the Sept. 15 incident, Winograd said the man, who is believed to be unhoused, had begun following her when she was walking her dog, prompting her to run back to her apartment complex.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026

"No one would have believed that 20 years ago," Scott says.

From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026

Rather than finding one solution, artificial intelligence has discovered that there are more ways to play sound chess than previously believed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026

Many believed that his decision to overhaul the house was a sign that he was planning to use the residence as a base for himself and his partner.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

In heaven, I fervently believed, everybody had footwarmers.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

And what you walk away believing is possible.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

“I have a hard time believing that Chairman Warsh will have that much patience for above-target inflation,” said Stephen Stanley, chief U.S. economist at Santander Capital Markets.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 19, 2026

On social media, Diana's fans are believing Earl Spencer's version of events, says Prof Pauline Maclaran.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

At least three other men allege she tricked them into believing she was pregnant over the past decade, according to court records.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

The overall bluntness of much of my life, the enforced reality of it, kept me from completely believing in things like psychic abilities, especially those from animals or other possible fairy tales.

From This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen

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