Definition

Verb: 1. To have a firm conviction in the truth, existence, or value of something: This means to accept something as true or real, often without absolute proof, or to be confident in the worth or effectiveness of something. 2. To have faith or trust in a person, principle, or system: This means to place confidence in someone's abilities or in the correctness of a particular idea or method.

Usage

• Use "believe in" to express faith in an abstract concept, a philosophy, or a deity (e.g., ).
• Use it to express confidence in a person's character or capabilities (e.g., ).
• Use it to express conviction about the effectiveness or benefits of a practice, product, or idea (e.g., ).

Examples

• Abstract Concept/Deity:
  • Do you believe in ghosts?
  • She believes in karma and reincarnation.
• Person:
  • His coach always believed in him, even when he failed.
  • You need to believe in yourself more.
• Principle/Practice:
  • Our company believes in sustainable business practices.
  • He believes in the power of education to change lives.

Advanced Usage

• "believe in something/someone wholeheartedly": To believe with complete and total conviction, without any doubt.
  • She believes in the cause wholeheartedly and volunteers every weekend.
• "not believe in something": To reject the existence, value, or practice of something.
  • I don't believe in punishing children physically.

Variants and Related Words

• Belief (n): The feeling of being certain that something exists or is true.
  • Her strong belief in fairness guides all her decisions.
• Believer (n): A person who believes in a particular idea, faith, or person.
  • He is a true believer in alternative medicine.

Synonyms

• Have faith in: To have complete trust or confidence in something.
• Trust in: To believe in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something.
• Subscribe to: To agree with or believe in an idea, theory, or set of principles.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Believe in is itself a phrasal verb. Its components are not typically separated.
  • Correct: I believe in honesty.
  • Uncommon: I believe honesty in.

Related Idioms

• "Seeing is believing": You need to see something yourself before you will accept that it is true.
  • He said he could run a marathon, but seeing is believing.
• "Make believe": To pretend or imagine that something is true.
  • The children were making believe they were pirates. (Note: This is a related but distinct phrase, not a direct usage of "believe in").

Verb

1. have a firm conviction as to the goodness of something
   • John believes in oat bran