disbelievedis‧be‧lieve /ˌdɪsbəˈliːv/ verb [intransitive, transitive] formal 
Verb Table Examples
I see no reason to disbelieve him.—disbelieving adjective
Verb TableVERB TABLE
disbelieve
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | disbelieve |
| he, she, it | disbelieves | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | disbelieved |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have disbelieved |
| he, she, it | has disbelieved | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had disbelieved |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will disbelieve |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have disbelieved |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- He had nothing to gain from lying so we saw no reason to disbelieve him.
- Kim, of course, disbelieved every word the boy said.
- The jury had no reason to disbelieve the witnesses.
- It was also a sign that William Mulholland chose, if not exactly to ignore, then to disbelieve.
- Perhaps the best approach to reading a proof for the first time is positively to disbelieve each assertion made.
Longman Language Activatorwhen you do not believe something► not believe
Word family to not believe that something is true or that someone is telling the truth: · She doesn't believe anything he tells her.· I told her it was an accident, but she didn't believe me.not believe (that): · I don't believe you meant half the things you said.not believe a word of it (=not believe it at all): · They say they're going to send me the money, but I don't believe a word of it.
► disbelieve formal to not believe something, especially something that someone has told you: · He had nothing to gain from lying so we saw no reason to disbelieve him.· Kim, of course, disbelieved every word the boy said.
► doubt to think that something may not really be true or that someone may not really be telling the truth, even though you are not completely sure: · In all the years I knew him I never once doubted his story.· He wondered how he could ever have doubted her.doubt (that): · He doubted that the car was hers because everyone knew she had no money.doubt whether/if: · They seriously doubted whether the letter had ever existed.I doubt it spoken: · He may be able to do a good job, but I doubt it.doubt very much/seriously doubt (=think something is almost certainly not true): · She says she'll leave him, but I doubt very much that she will.
► take something with a pinch of salt British /take something with a grain of salt American to not completely believe what someone says to you because you know that they do not always tell the truth: · It's best to take what he says with a pinch of salt - he's always exaggerating.· Every once in a while I go to a psychic, but I take everything she says with a grain of salt.
► disbelief the feeling that you cannot believe someone or something, especially because it is very surprising: · When people hear tragic news their first reaction is usually one of disbelief.· My story was met with a mixture of disbelief and contempt.do something in disbelief: · I stared at him in utter disbelief.
► sceptical also skeptical American someone who is sceptical about something is not sure whether it is true, or does not really believe it: · When I started this investigation I was sceptical.· His attitude towards all religion is sceptical.sceptical about: · I wish him luck, but I'm skeptical about his chances of success.
► cynical someone who is cynical is not willing to believe that people have good or honest reasons for doing something: · I think movie stars just do charity work to get publicity - but maybe I'm too cynical.· an author with a cynical view of lifecynical about: · Since her divorce, she's become very cynical about men.
► incredulous unable to believe something because it is so surprising that it seems impossible: · Everyone looked incredulous when I said I used to drive a taxi.· "A millionaire!" she was incredulous. "Like hell he is!"· The announcement was met by incredulous laughter.
WORD FAMILYnounbeliefdisbeliefbelieveradjectivebelievable ≠ unbelievabledisbelievingverbbelieve ≠ disbelieveadverbunbelievably
to not believe something or someone → doubt: I see no reason to disbelieve him.—disbelieving adjective