believe

verb

UK /bɪˈliːv/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	believe
he/she/it	believes
present participle	believing
past tense	believed
past participle	believed

1
transitive to think that a fact is true
Astronomers knew the Earth was round, but few people believed it.
believe (that):
I don’t believe that she’s ever been to Hong Kong.
be widely/generally believed (=be believed by a lot of people):
It is widely believed that the virus originally came from monkeys.
find it hard/difficult to believe:
She found it hard to believe that he was a real businessman.
I would never have believed:
I would never have believed such a place existed if I hadn’t seen it for myself.
Synonyms and related words
To believe or accept that something is true or exists
think
believe in
suppose
1. 1a
  to think that what someone has said is true
  The police didn’t believe her story.
  He told me his version of events, but I didn’t believe a word of it.
  ‘I did pay the money back!’ ‘OK, OK – I believe you!’
  Synonyms and related words
  To believe or accept that something is true or exists
  think
  believe in
  suppose
2
transitive to have an opinion about what is true or what might happen, although there is no proof
believe (that):
Scientists believe a cure for the disease will be discovered soon.
honestly/truly believe:
I honestly believe he really loved her.
reason to believe:
There is no reason to believe that he is not telling the truth.
lead someone to believe something (=make someone think something):
We were led to believe we could make a large profit.
believe someone (to be) something:
His friends wouldn’t believe him to be capable of murder.
Synonyms and related words
To have an opinion or opinions
think
believe in
say
3
intransitive to have a religious belief
Do you still believe?
Synonyms and related words
To have religious beliefs
believe
follow
practise

phrases

believe it or not

believe (you) me

can’t believe your eyes/ears

can’t believe your luck

can’t/don’t believe it

I do believe

if you believe that, you’ll believe anything

I’ll believe it/that when I see it

someone/something is believed to be

would you believe it?

you’d better believe it

you would not believe

phrasal verbs

believe in

believe ​‌‌‌

believe ​‌‌‌

believe

believe