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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

Sixty-one percent of likely Latino voters, and 57% of total voters surveyed, do not believe that having a Latino governor would reduce racial inequalities in the state.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

Some believe clubs can cater to different audiences at the same time.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

Dementia can make patients angry, or placid, or childlike, or even seem to time travel in their minds to where they believe they are children again.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026

To believe Skydance’s books, the goodwill from Warner by itself is worth more than Skydance’s entire stock-market value.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

It was still hard to believe Ba was serious.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Catlow believes this has led to a reduction in stalls selling tools at car boot sales that police have since revisited.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

He believes that when certain projects require the participation of multiple bureaus, there can be a silo effect that slows progress.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

Favuzza believes that there could be upside to the 40% growth rate, especially if the company incorporates the impact from Trainium sales.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 30, 2026

Fitch said it believes hitting that leverage target would require debt repayments through equity issuances or asset sales, and that free cash flow will likely remain limited initially.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

“We need to remove some of the native species. The Collective believes an airborne herbicide can kill foliage, without risking physical contact with dangerous flora.”

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera

Among Latino voters, 40% believed electing a Latino governor would ease fear in their communities, but 43% disagreed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

The letter, written by Markle's first wife Roslyn Loveless, is believed to have contained claims about Meghan's father.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

“If these claims were to be believed, Qatar would apparently own all of Israel.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

Everton did not disclose any further details but it is believed it was for missing a training session.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

“All these tests and tubes,” said Tante Jans, who believed in them implicitly, “what do they really prove?”

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

“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

Mychal Threets, the cheery host of ‘Reading Rainbow,’ told fans on social media, ‘Today I am safe, I’m believing that is enough,’ after he checked into a hospital for his mental health.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

Survivors may not report their assault to law enforcement for any number of reasons, including a fear of retaliation, not believing the police would help and not believing the crime was important enough.

From Salon ● Oct. 10, 2026

“Would you let me take the boat?” he asked, believing the leader should stay with the men.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong

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