believe

CEFRA1

/bɪˈliːv/

verb

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    verb

    judge or regard; look upon; judge.

  2. 02

    verb

    Extra detail

    To accept that someone is telling the truth.

Examples

  • I cannot believe the price of the tickets!

  • It's no use pretending to make me believe that I believe things you don't believe!

At a glance

Sits at A1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • [bɪˈlɪi̯v]

Deep Dive

verb

Extra meanings
  1. To have been persuaded to accept the factuality of something despite a lack of sufficient evidence therefore., To have been convinced by rational means to accept the truth of a proposition.

  2. To accept as true, particularly without absolute certainty (i.e., as opposed to knowing).

  3. To have been persuaded to accept the factuality of something despite a lack of sufficient evidence therefore.

More examples

In context
  • What do you believe is true even though you cannot prove it?

  • If you believe the numbers, you'll agree we need change.

  • I believe there are faeries.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

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Nearby

Origin

verb

From Middle English beleven, bileven, from Old English belīefan (“to believe”), from Proto-West Germanic *bilaubijan (“to believe”), equivalent to be- + leave (“to give leave or permission to, permit, allow, grant”). Cognate with Scots beleve (“to believe”), Old Frisian bilēva (“to permit”), Middle Dutch beloven (“to believe, entrust”), Middle Low German belö̂ven (“to believe”), Middle High German belouben (“to believe”). A related term in Old English was ġelīefan (“to be dear to; believe, trust”), from Proto-West Germanic *galaubijan (“to have faith, believe”), from Proto-Germanic *galaubijaną. Compare also Old English ġelēafa (“belief, faith, confidence, trust”), Old English lēof ("dear,...