believeverb
1feel sure that (something) is true.
accept the statement of (someone) as true.
have religious faith.
2(believe in) have faith in the truth or existence of.
3(believe in) have confidence in.
4think or suppose:I believe we've already met.
(believe in) think that (something) is right or acceptable.
Derivatives
believabilitynoun
believableadjective
believablyadverb
believernoun
Origin
OEbelȳfan,belēfan, alt. ofgelēfan, of Gmc origin.
Thesaurusbelieveverb
1I don't believe you: BE CONVINCED BY, trust, have confidence in, consider honest, consider truthful.
2do you believe that story?: REGARD AS TRUE, accept, be convinced by, give credence to, credit, trust, put confidence in;informalswallow, buy, go for.
3I believe he worked for you: THINK, be of the opinion that, have an idea that, imagine, suspect, suppose, assume, presume, take it, conjecture, surmise, conclude, deduce, understand, be given to understand, gather, fancy, guess, dare say;informalreckon, figure;archaicween.
Oppositesdoubt.
Phrases
believe in
1she believed in God: BE CONVINCED OF THE EXISTENCE OF, be sure of the existence of.
2I believe in lots of exercise: HAVE FAITH IN, pin one's faith on, trust in, have every confidence in, cling to, set (great) store by, value, be convinced by, be persuaded by; subscribe to, approve of;informalswear by, rate.