believe
Americanverb (used without object)
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
idioms
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
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
- believability noun
- believable adjective
- believableness noun
- believably adverb
- believer noun
- believing noun
- believingly adverb
- half-believed adjective
- half-believing adjective
- prebelieve verb
- superbelievable adjective
- superbelievableness noun
- superbelievably adverb
- well-believed adjective
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 )
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.
Because people with leprosy or tuberculosis still appeared in prestigious burial areas, the researchers believe this difference likely reflects varying levels of exposure to tuberculosis rather than social stigma.
From Science Daily
The researchers also found that this combination may be more widespread than previously believed.
From Science Daily
The team also believes their findings could guide the development of new strategies to prevent or treat lung cancer linked to prior lung infections.
From Science Daily
“You do have to pay attention and we definitely don’t want people to believe that they can just go to sleep behind the wheel,” said Raisu Williams, an Afeela engagement operations associate.
From Los Angeles Times
That final risk is why some military analysts believe reopening the strait would require a ground operation.
From Los Angeles Times
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.
