believeverb [ T ]
uk/bɪˈliːv/us/bɪˈliːv/A2 to think that something is true, correct, or real:
Strangely, no one believed us when we told them we'd been visited by a creature from Mars.
[ + that ] He believes that all children are born with equal intelligence.
She's arriving tomorrow, I believe.
"Is she coming alone?" "We believe not/so (= we think she is not/is)."
[ + obj + to infinitive ] I believe her to be the finest violinist in the world.
[ + obj + adj ] All the crew are missing, believed dead.
not believe a word of it
to not believe that something is true:
He told me she was just a friend, but I don't believe a word of it!
believe it or not B1 also would you believe it?
said when telling someone about something that is true, although it seems unlikely:
He's upstairs doing his homework, believe it or not.
believe me
said when emphasizing that something is true:
Believe me, I was scared !
if you believe that, you'll believe anything! informal
something that you say to emphasize that something is obviously not true:
He said the car in front backed into him, and if you believe that, you'll believe anything!
make believe
to pretend or imagine:
Let's make believe (that) we're pirates.
See also
make-believe
More examples
- He claims to have met the president, but I don't believe him.
- I still believe that people are fundamentally good.
- I don't believe that story for a moment.
- It's hard to believe there's anything wrong with him - he looks so healthy.
- I don't believe they should have put him in prison. It isn't right.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Believing
- article of faith
- ascribe sth to sb
- belief
- believe in sth
- benefit
- credit
- feel
- feel it in your bones idiom
- give sb the benefit of the doubt idiom
- gospel
- incline to/towards sth
- kid
- seeing is believing idiom
- self-delusion
- stock
- swear by sth
- take sb's word for it idiom
- take sth as read idiom
- under
- word
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Not believing
Expressions of surprise
True, real, false, and unreal
Faking & pretending
Idiom(s)
believe sth when you see it
not believe your eyes/ears
not believe your luck
Phrasal verb(s)
believe in sth
believe in sb