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believe - 7 dictionary results
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be⋅lieve

  [bi-leev] verb, -lieved, -liev⋅ing.
Use believe in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
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.
–verb (used with object)
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.
—Verb phrase
6. believe in,
a. to be persuaded of the truth or existence of: to believe in Zoroastrianism; to believe in ghosts.
b. to have faith in the reliability, honesty, benevolence, etc., of: I can help only if you believe in me.
—Idiom
7. make believe. make (def. 46).
Origin:
1150–1200; ME bileven, equiv. to bi- be- + leven, OE (Anglian) gelēfan (c. D gelooven, G glauben, Goth galaubjan)

Related forms:
be⋅liev⋅a⋅bil⋅i⋅ty, be⋅liev⋅a⋅ble⋅ness, noun
be⋅liev⋅a⋅ble, adjective
be⋅liev⋅a⋅bly, adverb
be⋅liev⋅er, noun
be⋅liev⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To believe
be·lieve   (bĭ-lēv')   
v.   be·lieved, be·liev·ing, be·lieves

v.   tr.
  1. To accept as true or real: Do you believe the news stories?
  2. To credit with veracity: I believe you.
  3. To expect or suppose; think: I believe they will arrive shortly.
v.   intr.
  1. To have firm faith, especially religious faith.
  2. To have faith, confidence, or trust: I believe in your ability to solve the problem.
  3. To have confidence in the truth or value of something: We believe in free speech.
  4. To have an opinion; think: They have already left, I believe.

[Middle English bileven, from Old English belȳfan, belēfan, gelēfan; see leubh- in Indo-European roots.]
be·liev'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Believe

Be*lieve"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Believed; p. pr. & vb. n. Believing.] [OE. bileven (with pref. be- for AS. ge-), fr. AS. gel?fan, gel?fan; akin to D. gelooven, OHG. gilouban, G. glauben, OS. gil?bian, Goth. galaubjan, and Goth. liubs dear. See Lief, a., Leave, n.] To exercise belief in; to credit upon the authority or testimony of another; to be persuaded of the truth of, upon evidence furnished by reasons, arguments, and deductions of the mind, or by circumstances other than personal knowledge; to regard or accept as true; to place confidence in; to think; to consider; as, to believe a person, a statement, or a doctrine.

Our conqueror (whom I now Of force believe almighty). --Milton.

King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets ? --Acts xxvi. 27.

Often followed by a dependent clause. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. --Acts viii. 37.

Syn: See Expect.

Believe

Be*lieve"\, v. i. 1. To have a firm persuasion, esp. of the truths of religion; to have a persuasion approaching to certainty; to exercise belief or faith.

Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. --Mark ix. 24.

With the heart man believeth unto righteousness. --Rom. x. 10.

2. To think; to suppose.

I will not believe so meanly of you. --Fielding.

To believe in. (a) To believe that the subject of the thought (if a person or thing) exists, or (if an event) that it has occurred, or will occur; -- as, to believe in the resurrection of the dead. "She does not believe in Jupiter." --J. H. Newman. (b) To believe that the character, abilities, and purposes of a person are worthy of entire confidence; -- especially that his promises are wholly trustworthy. "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." --John xiv. 1. (c) To believe that the qualities or effects of an action or state are beneficial: as, to believe in sea bathing, or in abstinence from alcoholic beverages.

To believe on, to accept implicitly as an object of religious trust or obedience; to have faith in.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : believe
Spanish: creer,
German: glauben,
Japanese: 信じる
More Translations »

believe 
O.E. belyfan, earlier geleafa (Mercian), gelefa (Northumbrian), gelyfan (W.Saxon) "believe," from P.Gmc. *ga-laubjan "hold dear, love," from PIE base *leubh- "to like, desire" (see love). Spelling beleeve is common till 17c.; then altered perhaps by influence of relieve. As a synonym for "Christian," believer is attested from 1549. To believe on instead of in was more common in 16c. but now is a peculiarity of theology; believe of also sometimes was used in 17c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: be·lieve
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: be·lieved; be·liev·ing
: to consider to be true or honest
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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believe

In addition to the idioms beginning with believe, also see lead one to believe; make believe; you'd better believe it. Also see seeing is believing.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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