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

“I didn’t ever believe that I would play this long.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

"We believe that the yields don't reflect the underlying fundamentals."

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

I couldn't believe I was so lucky to be there, seeing Morrissey for the first time, or seeing The Cure for the first time.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

Doctors and patients are excited about the possible breakthrough, but some analysts believe there’s too much hype.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

Their traveling companion could not believe what he had just seen and heard...until he saw what came next.

From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios

The council's focus on creating lots of jobs locally is misplaced, Matthew believes.

From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026

I have a badge and a T-shirt, but no one believes me.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

ServiceNow’s in-depth knowledge of how its customers operate will translate to sustained revenue growth and free-cash-flow expansion, he believes.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

Trump reportedly believes she is invaluable, which explains her frequent presence in his company everywhere from the Oval Office to his private helicopter, Marine One, and to the presidential jet itself.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

"Not everyone believes in Madame Chocolata, you know," Nancy said as they kept walking.

From "Case of the Sneaky Snowman: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #5" by Carolyn Keene

Seeking to reassure his employees in September 2021, Xu told staff in a letter he believed the group would "step out of the darkest moment soon".

From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026

The fire, believed to have started in the roof of the 500,000-square-foot cold storage warehouse, immediately raised health concerns because of the thick smoke that spread across the area.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 20, 2026

Executives said they believed it could, pointing to businesses such as membership and advertising.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

The two aren’t believed to have spoken in years and British tabloids had reported extensively on Meghan’s infighting with Prince William’s wife, Kate.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

Her tone was all pleasantness, like she actually believed she was being nice right now.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

Not terribly long ago, Cleveland mortgaged its future believing that Watson was its savior.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026

His father, an artisanal miner, had proudly helped the 23-year-old prepare for the trip, believing he was going to work as a car import agent in Tanzania.

From Barron's ● Aug. 19, 2026

"I suffered from body dysmorphia for years because of that, believing that no matter how strong, thin or young I was, there was no escaping the dreaded cottage cheese thighs."

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

“Shut up,” they have said to anyone believing a better world is possible, “the adults are talking.”

From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026

Believing in perfect places was as stupid as believing in unicorns, or that a TV personality was a good substitute for a real momma.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

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