believe

[ bih-leev ]

verb (used without object)

, be·lieved, be·liev·ing.

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)

, be·lieved, be·liev·ing.

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. 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. intrfoll byin 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

Derived Forms

• beˈlievable, adjective
• beˈlievably, adverb
• beˈlieving, nounadjective
• beˈliever, noun
• beˈlievaˌbility, noun

Other Words From

• be·liev·a·bil·i·ty [bih-leev-, uh, -, bil, -i-tee], be·liev·a·ble·ness noun
• be·liev·a·ble adjective
• be·liev·a·bly adverb
• be·liev·er noun
• be·liev·ing·ly adverb
• half-be·lieved adjective
• half-be·liev·ing adjective
• pre·be·lieve verb prebelieved prebelieving
• su·per·be·liev·a·ble adjective
• su·per·be·liev·a·ble·ness noun
• su·per·be·liev·a·bly adverb
• well-be·lieved 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 ¹( def 68 ).

More idioms and phrases containing believe

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

Example Sentences

Ma believes that these "epigenetic" changes are working hand-in-hand with the alternative transcription initiation sites in gene expression.

From Science Daily

“No matter what you believe or don’t believe, I think it’s important that people feel like there’s a glimmer of hope,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr Welby said he was "told that police had been notified" at the time and that he "believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow".

From BBC

“I firmly believe that it is the best and probably only path to pass a five-year farm bill this year.”

From Salon

"If that restriction was to be lifted, I believe that would be a huge pull factor and it would have potentially serious consequences," she said.

From BBC

Related Words

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

How Do You Spell Believe?

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.