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

"Whenever I get the ball and there's an opportunity to go one versus one, or two versus one, I believe in myself to do it. I'll just keep going and be ruthless."

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

Both Fall and Maloney believe that the French dip was created at Cole’s, not Philippe’s.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

Six in 10 adults believe there’s too much economic inequality, according to a Pew Research Center poll released last week.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026

When I was at my lowest ebb, I would keep saying that to myself, trying my very hardest to believe it.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

Nadav, 18, believes Ben Gvir is "trying to show that Israel is a strong country"

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

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

Wu believes Xi’s urgency is sharpened by the coming reshuffle.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026

"But let's not condemn everybody for everything they say, and the reason he's still part of the party is because everyone believes he's a solid bloke."

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

“The Chancellor believes this is where I am needed.”

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

In a statement, Bland said her "principles and priorities remain unchanged" and that she believed she could best pursue her goals of "holding the Scottish government to account" as an independent MSP.

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

It shows a half-man, half-woman surrounded by the signs of the zodiac and the four "humors" that for centuries doctors believed controlled health—blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

People who were 70-30 or 60-40 in believing might come away with a different opinion.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 20, 2026

“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

Kerr left the Alaskan frontier believing baseball could be his future and was able to land a tryout for a pair of MLB scouts at a high school in Reno.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

Fletcher - then Gabriel's coach at under-18 level - said no, believing the youngster wasn't physically ready.

From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026

“Mavis, what in the world is taking you kids so long? And don’t say you’re getting me a birthday present because I’m going to stop believing that soon.”

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

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