# believable

/bəˈɫivəbəɫ/ (US) · /bɪlˈiːvəbəl/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/believable
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

seeming like it could be true or real. You use this to describe a story, an excuse, or a character that you can trust or imagine actually happening.

For teachers: capable of being accepted as true, real, or credible. Often used to evaluate the quality of a narrative or the sincerity of a person's claims.

## Examples

- The actor gives a very believable performance.
- The witness provided a believable account of the events, which helped the jury reach a quick decision.
- While the plot of the novel is somewhat far-fetched, the protagonist's emotional journey remains entirely believable due to the author's nuanced understanding of human grief.

## Pitfalls

- Not "The story was very believeable." but "The story was very believable." — The silent 'e' at the end of 'believe' is dropped before adding the suffix '-able'.

## Usage notes

- Often follows linking verbs like 'seem', 'sound', or 'look'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.