believe

American  

[bih-leev] / bɪˈliv /

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.

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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.

idioms

1. make believe. make.

believe British  

/ 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

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believe More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing believe

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

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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 )

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.

Example Sentences

I believe this is a legitimate case of timeshare overcharging.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 27, 2026

Chinese authorities believe they have the power to demand that the deal be unwound because Beijing Butterfly Effect Technology remains a Chinese company.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

And that’s dangerous because, as countless studies show, when youth don’t believe in the system, they are much less likely to adhere to it.

From Slate • Apr. 27, 2026

Leeds say they believe this would have cleared any issue with the MCO rules.

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

Father, so skilled at finding good in every situation, so slow to believe evil.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

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