believe

[bih-leev]

verb (used without object)

believed, believing 

1. 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)

believed, believing 

1. to have confidence or faith in the truth of (a positive assertion, story, etc.); give credence to.

2. to have confidence in the assertions of (a person).

3. 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.

4. to suppose or assume; understand (usually followed by a noun clause).

   I believe that he has left town.

verb phrase

1. 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.

believe

/ bɪˈliːv /

verb

1. (tr; may take a clause as object) to accept (a statement, supposition, or opinion) as true

   I believe God exists

2. (tr) to accept the statement or opinion of (a person) as true

3. to be convinced of the truth or existence (of)

   to believe in fairies

4. (intr) to have religious faith

5. (when tr, takes a clause as object) to think, assume, or suppose

   I believe that he has left already

6. (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

Other Word Forms

• believable adjective
• believably adverb
• believing noun
• believer noun
• believability noun
• believableness noun
• believingly adverb
• half-believed adjective
• half-believing adjective
• prebelieve verb
• superbelievable adjective
• superbelievableness noun
• superbelievably adverb
• well-believed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of believe¹

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 )

Word History and Origins

Origin of believe¹

Old English beliefan

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. make believe. make.

More idioms and phrases containing believe

• lead one to believe
• make believe
• seeing is believing
• you'd better believe it

Example Sentences

Six boats are believed to have set off from northern France, as the smugglers make the most of a break in the windy weather in the Channel.

From BBC

"We have to back ourselves and I believe we have every ability to pull it off."

From BBC

London and Dublin believe the two bodies reflect what was agreed, but never implemented, under the Stormont House Agreement in 2014.

From BBC

Ticket security expert Reg Walker believes "speculative listings - tickets these websites don't have" may explain the advertised numbers.

From BBC

“I’ve always believed he was a visionary, an innovator, a great president and even better golfer,” he joked.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• consider 
• expect 
• feel 
• hold 
• maintain 
• presume 
• speculate 
• suppose 
• suspect 
• take 
• think 
• understand 

When To Use

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.