believing
IdiomsExplanation
The act of accepting something as the truth is believing. For many kids, believing in the Tooth Fairy is an important part of childhood — not to mention an excellent source of cash! Have you ever heard the phrase "seeing is believing"? This basically means that if you witness something in person, you're more likely to accept the fact that it's real or true. To believe is to trust in this truth. And for many people, believing isn't about having proof — it's about accepting something as true even without seeing it. Most religions, for example, emphasize the importance of believing in a higher power.
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.
“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
“They’ve spent 13 years believing That’s the guy that shot me,” he said.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
I grew up honestly believing that the point to life was to be liked by other people and to get other people’s approval.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026
Det Con Charlotte Couch, from Avon and Somerset Police, said: "We understand the immense fear this incident caused, with witnesses believing at the time this was an active act of terror."
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
“Maybe you should answer,” he says, hardly believing the words are leaving his mouth.
From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
