believe

UK: /bɪˈliːv/ US: /bɪˈliv/ ,(bi lēv′)

Inflections of 'believe' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

believes

v 3rd person singular

believing

v pres p

believed

v past

believed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

be•lieve /bɪˈliv/   v. [not: be + ~-ing] , -lieved, -liev•ing. 

1. to have faith in the truth of:
   [~ + object] I can't believe that story.
   [~ + (that) clause]
   I don't believe (that) the earth is flat.
2. to have confidence in the statements of (a person):
   [~ + object] If my daughter says she wasn't cheating, I believe her.
3. to hold as an opinion; suppose;
   think: [~ + (that) clause]
   I believe (that) they are out of town.
   [no object]
   Do you think they are coming? I believe so.
4. believe in, [~ + in + object]
   • to be sure of the truth or existence of:
     to believe in God.
   • to have faith in the reliability or honesty of;
     trust: I can help you only if you believe in me.
   • to accept that (something) is a good idea or is worthwhile:
     I believe in getting to work early.

be•liev•a•bil•i•ty /bɪˌlivəˈbɪlɪti/  be•liev•a•ble•ness, n. 

[uncountable] the believability of your story.

be•liev•a•ble, adj.: 

Her story of rape is highly believable.

be•liev•a•bly, adv. 
be•liev•er, n. [countable]
be•liev•ing•ly, adv. 
Related Words

believe is a verb, belief is a noun, believable is an adjective:
I don't believe you. Her religious beliefs guide her life. That story is not believable.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

be•lieve  (bi lēv′), v., -lieved, -liev•ing. 
v.i. 

1. 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.

v.t. 

2. to have confidence or faith in the truth of (a positive assertion, story, etc.);
   give credence to.
3. to have confidence in the assertions of (a person).
4. 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.
5. to suppose or assume;
   understand (usually fol. by a noun clause):
   I believe that he has left town.
6. 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.
7. Idioms make believe. See make (def. 46).

• Middle English bileven, equivalent. to bi- be- + leven, Old English (Anglian) gelēfan (cognate with Dutch gelooven, German glauben, Gothic galaubjan) 1150–1200

be•liev′a•bil′i•ty, be•liev′a•ble•ness, n. 
be•liev′a•ble, adj. 
be•liev′a•bly, adv. 
be•liev′er, n. 
be•liev′ing•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

believe / bɪˈliːv/ verb

1. (tr; may take a clause as object) to accept (a statement, supposition, or opinion) as true: I believe God exists
2. (transitive) to accept the statement or opinion of (a person) as true
3. (intransitive) followed by in: to be convinced of the truth or existence (of): to believe in fairies
4. (intransitive) to have religious faith
5. (when tr, takes a clause as object) to think, assume, or suppose
6. (tr; followed 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

Etymology: Old English beliefan

beˈlievable adjective

beˈliever noun