# believe

/bɪˈɫiv/ (US) · /bɪlˈiːv/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/believe
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Senses

### 1. to accept as true

verb · CEFR A1

to think that something is true, even if you are not 100% sure.

For teachers: to accept a statement, fact, or idea as true or real without absolute proof.

- I believe that we have met somewhere before, but I forget where.
- Scientists believe that the new data will eventually confirm their theories about the planet's atmosphere.

### 2. to trust someone

verb · CEFR A1

to trust that what someone says is the truth.

For teachers: to accept the word or testimony of a person as being truthful.

- You should believe him because he never tells lies.
- The jury found it difficult to believe the witness after several contradictions appeared in her testimony.

### 3. to have an opinion

verb · CEFR B1

to think or have an opinion about something.

For teachers: to hold a particular opinion or to suppose something to be the case.

- I believe it is going to rain later, so take an umbrella.
- The manager believes it is in the company's best interest to delay the product launch until spring.

### 4. to believe in

verb · CEFR A2

to feel sure that someone or something exists, or that they are good.

For teachers: to be convinced of the existence, truth, or value of something.

- Do you believe in ghosts, or do you think they are just stories?
- Many people believe in the power of education to change a person's life for the better.

Teaching tip: Distinguish between 'believe someone' (trust their words) and 'believe in someone' (have confidence in their character or ability).

## Examples

- I believe that we can win the game today.
- Many people believe that eating breakfast is the most important part of the day for maintaining energy.
- While some critics dismissed the theory immediately, others began to believe that the initial data supported a much more radical conclusion than previously thought.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am believing you." but "I believe you." — Believe is a stative verb and is rarely used in the continuous (-ing) form.

## Usage notes

- Often followed by a 'that' clause or the preposition 'in' when expressing trust or existence.

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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.