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believe

8 dictionary results for: believe

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

be·lieve

[bi-leev] Pronunciation Key verb, -lieved, -liev·ing.

–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

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) geléfan (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 (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

be·lieve   (bĭ-lēv') Pronunciation Key
v.   be·lieved, be·liev·ing, be·lieves

v.   tr.

To accept as true or real: Do you believe the news stories?
To credit with veracity: I believe you.
To expect or suppose; think: I believe they will arrive shortly.

v. intr.

To have firm faith, especially religious faith.
To have faith, confidence, or trust: I believe in your ability to solve the problem.
To have confidence in the truth or value of something: We believe in free speech.
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.

(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
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.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

believe
verb
1.	accept as true; take to be true; "I believed his report"; "We didn't believe his stories from the War"; "She believes in spirits" [ant: disbelieve]
2.	judge or regard; look upon; judge; "I think he is very smart"; "I believe her to be very smart"; "I think that he is her boyfriend"; "The racist conceives such people to be inferior" [syn: think]
3.	be confident about something; "I believe that he will come back from the war"
4.	follow a credo; have a faith; be a believer; "When you hear his sermons, you will be able to believe, too"
5.	credit with veracity; "You cannot believe this man"; "Should we believe a publication like the National Enquirer?"

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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

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 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

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Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: be·lieve
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: be·lieved; be·liev·ing
: to consider to be true or honest

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

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.

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