belief
- 01 B1 Intermediate
the feeling or certainty that something is true or exists.
the mental state of accepting a proposition or premise as being true or factual.
Simple“Her belief in the importance of hard work helped her finish the project.”
In context“The scientist maintained his belief that the data would eventually support his hypothesis, despite the initial setbacks in the laboratory.”
UsageOften followed by the preposition 'in' or a 'that' clause.
PitfallI have a belief that he is coming. I believe that he is coming.While 'belief' is correct, English speakers usually prefer the verb 'believe' for personal opinions about immediate events.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 B1 Intermediate
a specific idea that you hold, especially about religion, politics, or what is right and wrong.
a set of principles or tenets held by a person or group, often relating to religious or ethical systems.
Simple“People from many different religious beliefs live together in this city.”
In context“The constitution protects the right of every citizen to practice their deeply held moral and religious beliefs without fear of persecution.”
UsageCommonly used in the plural when referring to a person's general worldview.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
trust that someone or something is good, effective, or will be successful.
confidence in the efficacy or reliability of a person, system, or entity.
Simple“The team's recent wins have given the fans new belief in the manager.”
In context“Public belief in the stability of the banking system is essential for preventing a widespread financial crisis.”
UsageUsually takes the preposition 'in'.
Synonyms
Usage cultural belief · express belief · support belief
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *lewbʰ-der. Proto-Germanic *laubō Proto-West Germanic *laubu Old English lēafa Middle English bileve English belief From Middle English bileve, from Old English lēafa, from Proto-West Germanic laubu from Proto-Germanic laubō. Compare German Glaube (“faith, belief”). The replacement of final /v/ with /f/ is due to the analogy of noun-verb pairs with /f/ in the noun but /v/ in the verb, creating a pair belief : believe on the model of e.g. grief : grieve or proof : prove.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.