释义
[ bih-leev ] SHOW IPA
/ bɪˈliv / PHONETIC RESPELLING
SEE SYNONYMS FOR believe ON THESAURUS.COM
verb (used without object), be·lieved, be·liev·ing. 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. to have confidence or faith in the truth of (a positive assertion, story, etc.); give credence to.
to have confidence in the assertions of (a person).
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.
to suppose or assume; understand (usually followed by a noun clause): I believe that he has left town.
Verb Phrases believe in, to be persuaded of the truth or existence of: to believe in Zoroastrianism; to believe in ghosts. to have faith in the reliability, honesty, benevolence, etc., of:I can help only if you believe in me. Idioms for believemake believe . make1 (def. 68).
Origin of believe 1150–1200; Middle English bileven, equivalent to bi- be- + leven, Old English (Anglian) gelēfan (cognate with Dutch gelooven, German glauben, Gothic galaubjan )
OTHER WORDS FROM believe be·liev·a·bil·i·ty, 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, pre·be·lieved, pre·be·liev·ing. pre·be·liev·er, noun 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
SEE MORE RELATED FORMS SEE FEWER RELATED FORMS
Words nearby believe Belgrano, Belgravia, Belial, belie, belief, believe , believe it or not, believe one's ears, believing, belike, Belinda
Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for believe People watch night soaps because the genre allows them to believe in a world where people just react off their baser instincts.
‘Empire’ Review: Hip-Hop Musical Chairs with an Insane Soap Opera Twist | Judnick Mayard| January 8, 2015| DAILY BEAST
I believe in the power of institutions—Congress, public policy, certain ideas about politics—that last for a long time.
Thank Congress, Not LBJ for Great Society | Julian Zelizer, Scott Porch| January 4, 2015| DAILY BEAST
What they believe impacts economic policy, foreign policy, education policy, environmental policy, you name it.
The Evangelical Apocalypse Is All Your Fault | Jay Michaelson| January 4, 2015| DAILY BEAST
“We believe the gun was in it the whole time,” the investigator says.
Exclusive: Inside a Cop-Killer’s Final Hours | Michael Daly| December 31, 2014| DAILY BEAST
Afraid the Korean secret police would not believe his kidnapping story, Shin settled in Hollywood.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea | Rich Goldstein| December 30, 2014| DAILY BEAST
For Ignacio knew that the Spanish officer was glad enough to believe the story the spy told him.
A Prisoner of Morro | Upton Sinclair
It makes me feel ridiculous to think I was soft enough to believe that rubbage.
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Complete | Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)
I believe them to have been the direct suggestion of the devil.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources | James Wood
If I was to write to my mother,' says he, 'that my wife had left me, I believe it would be the death of her.
The Land of Long Ago | Eliza Calvert Hall
People do not believe what God has said about what He is willing to do for His children.
The Master's Indwelling | Andrew Murray
SEE MORE EXAMPLES SEE FEWER EXAMPLES
British Dictionary definitions for believe verb (tr; may take a clause as object) to accept (a statement, supposition, or opinion) as true I believe God exists
(tr) to accept the statement or opinion of (a person) as true
(intr foll by in ) to be convinced of the truth or existence (of) to believe in fairies
(intr) to have religious faith
(when tr, takes a clause as object) to think, assume, or suppose I believe that he has left already
(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 of believe believability , noun believable , adjective believably , adverb believer , noun
believing , noun , adjective
SEE MORE DERIVED FORMS SEE FEWER DERIVED FORMS
Word Origin for believe Old English beliefan
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Idioms and Phrases with believe In addition to the idioms beginning with believe
believe it or not believe one's ears also see:
lead one to believe make believe you'd better believe it Also seeseeing is believing.
SEE MORE ORIGINS SEE FEWER ORIGINS
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Words related to believe hold, consider, conclude, regard, accept, admit, understand, have, suppose, trust, think, feel, maintain, expect, presume, suspect, speculate, take, buy, affirm