Definition of believe

Short definition: The word believe means to accept something as true or real, even without complete proof. People use it to describe trust in ideas, facts, or others, as well as confidence in hopes and possibilities.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the word believe? The word believe is often used when we talk about trust—trust in facts, in people, in ideas, and even in ourselves. It can describe accepting something as true, having confidence in someone’s words, or holding a personal faith that shapes how we see the world. In everyday life, believe plays a powerful role in motivation, relationships, and decision-making, because what we believe often guides what we choose to do. Below, each meaning is explained in a relaxed, real-life way with long examples that sound natural in everyday conversations.

Verb forms: believe, believes, believing, believed
Related: belief n., believable adj., unbelief n.
Syllable: be-lieve

1. To accept something as true or real.
   She chose to believe the story he told, even though others doubted it, because his honesty in the past made her trust him.
   Many people still believe that hard work leads to success, even when results do not come immediately.
   As a child, he truly believed that dreams could predict the future, and he listened carefully whenever his grandmother shared her old stories.

   Synonyms: accept as true, trust, credit, take as fact, be convinced of, give belief to, rely on, have confidence in, be persuaded, assume true, acknowledge as real, hold to be true
   Antonyms: doubt, disbelieve, question, mistrust, reject as false, deny, be skeptical of, challenge, suspect, distrust, refute, dismiss

2. To have confidence in someone’s honesty, ability, or character.
   She believes in her team, even when projects become difficult and mistakes happen along the way.
   The coach told the players to believe in themselves, reminding them that confidence is often the first step toward real improvement.
   He learned to believe his instincts, especially after years of making careful decisions that proved to be right.

   Synonyms: trust in, have faith in, rely on, be confident in, count on, depend on, place trust in, have confidence in, believe in the ability of, stand behind, support fully, have assurance in
   Antonyms: mistrust, doubt, lose faith in, distrust, question ability of, lose confidence in, be unsure of, suspect incompetence, withdraw trust from, lack faith in, hesitate about, doubt the capability of

3. To hold a personal faith or religious view.
   She believes in a higher purpose, and that belief gives her strength during difficult times.
   He grew up in a family that believed strongly in spiritual values, which shaped his outlook on life from an early age.
   Many people believe in the power of prayer, finding comfort in quiet moments of reflection.

   Synonyms: have faith in, hold a belief in, trust spiritually, accept in faith, follow a belief, adhere to faith, maintain faith, practice belief, live by faith, embrace faith, hold religious faith, trust in spiritually
   Antonyms: doubt faith, lose belief, reject religion, abandon faith, become skeptical of faith, turn away from belief, disbelieve spiritually, deny faith, question religion, renounce belief, lose trust in faith, abandon convictions

4. To think or suppose something is likely to be true.
   I believe he will arrive late, because traffic is always heavy at this hour.
   She believes the meeting will be postponed, based on the message she received earlier in the day.
   They believed the weather would improve, so they decided to continue with their outdoor plans.

   Synonyms: think, suppose, assume, expect, guess, imagine, be of the opinion, consider likely, reckon, presume, estimate, feel that
   Antonyms: know for sure, be certain otherwise, rule out, dismiss the idea, reject the thought, be convinced against, deny the possibility, disprove, be sure it will not, eliminate doubt by facts, confirm the opposite, know differently

5. To accept someone’s words as honest or sincere.
   She wanted to believe his apology, even though she still felt hurt by what had happened.
   It took time for him to believe her explanation, because trust once broken is not easily repaired.
   They chose to believe the witness, hoping that telling the truth would help solve the problem.

   Synonyms: trust the word of, accept as sincere, take at face value, credit someone, give trust to, rely on someone’s honesty, accept honestly, take seriously, place trust in words, acknowledge sincerity, believe sincerely, trust fully
   Antonyms: doubt someone, suspect dishonesty, question sincerity, discredit, mistrust words, doubt truthfulness, reject as insincere, suspect lying, challenge honesty, distrust statements, be skeptical of claims, deny credibility