Believe
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /bɪˈliːv/ · Part of speech verb
Quick meaning: Believe is a verb meaning (transitive) To accept as true, particularly without absolute certainty (i.e., as opposed to knowing).
Meaning
(transitive) To accept as true, particularly without absolute certainty (i.e., as opposed to knowing).
More Meanings
- (transitive) To accept that someone is telling the truth.
- (transitive) To have been persuaded to accept the factuality of something despite a lack of sufficient evidence therefore.
- (intransitive) To have religious faith; to believe in a greater truth.
- (transitive) To opine, think, reckon.
Example Sentences
Why did I ever believe you?
I believe there are faeries.
After that night in the church, I believed.
Do you think this is good? —Hmm, I believe it's okay.
Word Forms
- believes
- believing
- believed
- believest
- believedst
- believeth
- beleeve
Synonyms for believe
Depending on context, synonyms include understand, feel, see, trust, hold, consider.
Antonyms for believe
Common opposites include disbelieve, doubt, mistrust, distrust, suspect, discredit.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include trust, consider, think, conceive, faith, rely.
Commonly Confused & Compared Words
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Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.