Belie

/bɪˈlaɪ/ · verb

Meaning

(transitive, obsolete) To lie around; encompass..

Definitions by Sense

1. (transitive, obsolete) To lie around; encompass.
2. (transitive, obsolete, of an army) To surround; beleaguer.
3. (transitive, archaic) To tell lies about.
4. (transitive) To give a false representation of.
5. (transitive) To contradict, to show (something) to be false.
6. (transitive, rare) To call a liar; to accuse of falsehood.
7. (transitive, rare) To fill with lies; to lie to.
8. (transitive, perhaps nonstandard) To conceal the contradictory or ironic presence of (something).

Example Sentences

Thou do’ſt bely him Percy, thou doſt bely him; / He never did encounter with Glendower:

Her smooth complexion and dark hair belie her actual age.

Should I do ſo I ſhould bely my thoughts, / Comfort's in heauen, and we are on the earth[…]

Pand. Lady, you vtter madneſſe, and not ſorrow. Con. Thou art [not] holy to belye me ſo, I am not mad: This haire I teare is mine

He found it by experience, and made good uſe of it in his owne perſon, if Plutarch bely him not[…].

Cambodia's apparent relative insignificance belied its geopolitical importance.

Opposite, the Loram site contains a real ragbag of yellow, blue or rust-streaked kit whose appearance belies their importance in keeping the railways running.

Her obvious nervousness belied what she said.

Synonyms for belie

Antonyms for belie

Related Words

Word Forms

• belies
• belying
• belay
• belain
• bely
• belied

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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